Luminescence properties of Tb3+:Y3Al5O12 nanocrystallites prepared by the sol–gel method

Tb 3+ :YAG nanocrystalline powders have been prepared by the sol-gel route. Structure and morphology of the obtained materials have been studied. The average grain sizes have been determined by X-ray powder diffraction measurements. Photo- and cathodoluminescence spectra of the Tb 3+ :Y 3 Al 5 O 12 powders have been measured. It has been found that the samples at low concentration demonstrate emission ascribable to the 5 D 3 →F J and 5 D 4 → 7 F J transitions. In particular, the concentration dependence of the luminescence spectra and lifetimes have been investigated as a function of the YAG grains sizes. It has been shown that the cross-relaxation responsible for the quenching of the 5 D 3…