synthesis and luminescence properties of yag:ce nanopowder prepared by the pechini method

cerium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (yag:ce) powder was synthesized by the pechini method with aluminum nitride, yttrium nitride, citric acid and ethylene glycol as the starting materials. structure, morphology and luminescence spectra were investigated by using x-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy measurements. the pure yag phase was formed after heat treatment at 800 °c for 3 h and no intermediate phase was observed. the average size of the particles was about 70 nm. the photoluminescence spectrum of the crystalline yag:ce phosphors showed the green-yellow emission with 5d → 4f transition as the most prominent group. the increase of the ethylene glycol:citric acid molar ratio, resulted in a powder with smaller particle size and better luminescence properties.