Abstract: A series of (Gd0.95-xLuxEu0.05)2O3 (x=0-0.95) nano-powders for Eu3+-doped Lu2O3-Gd2O3 solid solution transparent ceramics were prepared by coprecipitation method, using lanthanide nitrates and NH4HCO3 as starting materials.The properties of the synthesized powders were tested by XRD, SEM, TEM, BET and TMA.The nano-powders were cubic (Gd0.95-xLuxEu0.05)2O3 phase after calcination at 800 ℃, and they have fine particle sizes, near-spherical morphology and narrow size distribution.Transparent (Gd0.45Lu0.5Eu0.05)2O3 and (Lu0.95Eu0.05)2O3 ceramics were fabricated by vacuum-sintering at 1700 ℃ for 24 h using the synthesized nano-powders with the in-line transmittances of 53.5; and 62.3; in the visible light region, respectively.Upon 254 nm excitation, the bright red emission line of Eu3+ ions at 612 nm was observed for the transparent ceramics, and the luminescent intensity of (Gd0.45Lu0.5Eu0.05)2O3 ceramic is 1.7 times stronger than that of (Lu0.95Eu0.05)2O3 ceramic due to the energy transfer from Gd3+ to Eu3+.

Key words: A series of (Gd0.95-xLuxEu0.05)2O3 (x=0-0.95) nano-powders for Eu3+-doped Lu2O3-Gd2O3 solid solution transparent ceramics were prepared by coprecipitation method, using lanthanide nitrates and NH4HCO3 as starting materials.The properties of the synthesized powders were tested by XRD, SEM, TEM, BET and TMA.The nano-powders were cubic (Gd0.95-xLuxEu0.05)2O3 phase after calcination at 800 ℃, and they have fine particle sizes, near-spherical morphology and narrow size distribution.Transparent (Gd0.45Lu0.5Eu0.05)2O3 and (Lu0.95Eu0.05)2O3 ceramics were fabricated by vacuum-sintering at 1700 ℃ for 24 h using the synthesized nano-powders with the in-line transmittances of 53.5; and 62.3; in the visible light region, respectively.Upon 254 nm excitation, the bright red emission line of Eu3+ ions at 612 nm was observed for the transparent ceramics, and the luminescent intensity of (Gd0.45Lu0.5Eu0.05)2O3 ceramic is 1.7 times stronger than that of (Lu0.95Eu0.05)2O3 ceramic due to the energy transfer from Gd3+ to Eu3+.