Nano-phosphors for up-conversion fluorescence applications

• Main Author: Ting, Samantha Sze Hui.
• Other Authors: Alfred Tok Iing Yoong
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/35553
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Aiming to fill up the research gap, this report gives insights to the different shapes and morphology obtained from two synthesizing methods, namely aqueous and non-aqueous. This report will provide an overview of how yttrium oxide nanoparticles co-doped with ytterbium and erbium (Y2O3:Yb3+, Er3+) were being synthesized. It also gives an investigation on the growth mechanisms behind the various shapes obtained for Y2O3:Yb3+, Er3+, the effect of oleic acid on the morphology of the nanoparticles obtained as well as the effect of nanostructure on the photoluminescence. Verification and characterization of the shape, size, morphology, structural characteristics and photoluminescence of the products were carried out with the aid of Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Spectrophotometer. From the results, it has shown that non-aqueous method was able to synthesize spherical particles of diameter less than 10nm. On the other hand, aqueous method was able to synthesize three different shapes, mainly agglomerated spherical particles, flexible nanobelts and nanorods. The difference in shapes achieved could be explained by the effect of oleic acid added.