Synthesis and Luminescent Properties of Lu[sub 3]Ga[sub 5]O[sub 12]:RE[sup 3+] (RE=Eu, Tb, and Pr) Nanocrystalline Phosphors via Sol-Gel Process

, , and phosphors were prepared through a Pechini-type sol-gel process. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), photoluminescence, and cathodoluminescence spectra were utilized to characterize the synthesized phosphors. The XRD results reveal that the sample begins to crystallize at and fully crystallined pure phase can be obtained at . The FESEM image indicates that the phosphor sample is composed of aggregated rice grainlike particles with sizes around . Under the excitation of ultraviolet light and low-voltage electron beams , the , , and phosphors show the characteristic emissions of ( transitions, orange-red), ( transitions, green), and ( , , , and transitions, green), respectively. The corresponding luminescence mechanisms are discussed. These phosphors have potential applications in area of field emission displays.