Eu3+-doped TiO2 Nanocrystals Synthesized by Ar/O2 RF Thermal Plasma Oxidation of Liquid Precursor Mists: Phase Structure and Luminescence Property

Abstract

Eu3+-doped TiO2 luminescent nanoparticles have been synthesized in this work via Ar/O2 thermal plasma oxidizing mists of liquid precursors containing titanium tetra-n-butoxide and europium nitrate. The resultant nanopowders are mixtures of the anatase and rutile polymorphs, but the rutile fraction increases steadily at a higher Eu3+ addition. The solubility of Eu3+ in the TiO2 lattice was limited to 0.5at%. UV-Vis, excitation, and PL studies confirmed the existence of nonradiative energy transfer from the host lattice to the guest ions. As a consequence of this, bright and pure red emission was observed from the nanopowders.