Gd2O3:Eu3+ and Y2O3:Eu3+ nanophosphors have been successfully fabricated by a combustion method at low temperature (350°C) in a short time (5 min) using natriethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA-Na2) as fuel. The structure, morphology and size of Gd2O3:Eu3+ and Y2O3:Eu3+ nanophosphors have been determined by x-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Photoluminescence spectra indicated that the optimum Eu3+ ion concentrations with the strongest luminescence emission intensities are 5 mol.% for Y2O3:Eu3+ and 7 mol.% for Gd2O3:Eu3+. The nanocomposites of Gd2O3:Eu3+/silica and Y2O3:Eu3+/silica were fabricated by a sol–gel process with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as matrix material, and the nanocomposite compositions were analyzed by energy dispersion spectra. The strongest luminescence peaks from the 5D0–7F2 transition of the Eu3+ ion in Gd2O3:Eu3+ and Y2O3:Eu3+ nanophosphors are between 613 nm and 615 nm. The Gd2O3:Eu3+ and Y2O3:Eu3+ nanophosphors and their silica nanocomposites were studied to elucidate the influences of the Eu3+ concentration, host materials, annealing temperature, and weight ratio of TEOS and Gd2O3:Eu3+ or Y2O3:Eu3+.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-017-5816-y