Europium-doped yttrium silicate nanoparticles embedded in a porous SiO 2 matrix
Abstract
Europium-doped yttrium silicate nanoparticles were grown inside a porous silicon oxide matrix by chemical impregnation of porous silicon layers, followed by heat treatments. The average size of the nanoparticles is 50 nm and they are dispersed almost uniformly within the whole porous layer. Local composition measurements demonstrate that Y and Eu are found only in nanoparticles, indicating a good phase separation efficiency. There is indirect evidence that yttrium silicate nanoparticles are nucleated around Eu ions. The crystalline phase of the particles is pure α-Y2Si2O7, with no trace of Y2O3 or Y2SiO5 or other Y2Si2O7 polymorphs. Structural purity is an advantage for this method, as in the case of powder or sol–gel methods single-phase yttrium silicate formation is hardly possible, even at high firing temperatures.