Prepration and photoluminescence properties of Ce doped lutetium silicate nanopowders by solegel method

Cerium doped lutetium silicate powders were prepared by solegel process with different cerium concentrations (0, 0.01 and 0.03 mol%). The synthesized lutetium silicate powders were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), TG-DTA, SEM, and Photoluminescence excitation and emissions. The crystallization of lutetium silicate is observed at 1.073 C in S2 (and S3: 1.058 C) sample. The formation of lutetium silicate phases was confirmed by XRD analysis for the powders heated at 1.200 C, of which mixed phases containing Lu2SiO5 and Lu2Si2O7 phase were observed. Lutetium silicate powders were homogeneous and constituted of small spherical particles of about 400 nm. Lutetium silicate powder itself was not scintillate, but scintillation yield was higher in Lu2SiO5:Ce3þ powder. Very broad spectra were observed in the range of 350e530 nm, and emission intensity increases at a Ce doping of 0.01%, but