Phase control and luminescent properties of Eu3+-activated RbY3F10 nanocrystals
(2026) In Ceramics International 52(15). p.29962-29972- Abstract
Rubidium triyttrium decafluoride (RbY3F10) is a relatively unexplored low-phonon-energy fluoride host for lanthanide luminescent centers that shares structural similarities with KY3F10. In this study, Eu3+-doped RbY3F10 nanocrystals were synthesized using a microwave-assisted solvothermal method, with phase selectivity systematically controlled by pH and complexing agents. Optimized conditions (decreased EDTA concentration at pH 9) produced phase-pure cubic RbY3F10 with uniform nanocrystalline shape and stable incorporation of nominal Eu3+ concentrations up to 50 mol%. Low-temperature synchrotron photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy enabled the... (More)
Rubidium triyttrium decafluoride (RbY3F10) is a relatively unexplored low-phonon-energy fluoride host for lanthanide luminescent centers that shares structural similarities with KY3F10. In this study, Eu3+-doped RbY3F10 nanocrystals were synthesized using a microwave-assisted solvothermal method, with phase selectivity systematically controlled by pH and complexing agents. Optimized conditions (decreased EDTA concentration at pH 9) produced phase-pure cubic RbY3F10 with uniform nanocrystalline shape and stable incorporation of nominal Eu3+ concentrations up to 50 mol%. Low-temperature synchrotron photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy enabled the detailed identification of Eu3+ energy levels and revealed the excitonic band edge. Reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy (REELS) provided an independent estimate of the electronic bandgap. These complementary techniques provided two independent estimates of bandgap-related energies in the range of 9.3–11.8 eV, reported here for the first time. Eu3+ emission spectra displayed sharp f–f transitions and long excited state lifetimes (>5 ms at ≤10% Eu3+), indicating reduced multiphonon relaxation associated with the low-phonon-energy host, while nonradiative processes still contribute to the overall decay dynamics. Judd–Ofelt analysis further quantified radiative transition probabilities, suggesting largely consistent local environments for Eu3+ ions across doping levels. Finally, a proof-of-concept near-UV-pumped LED configuration using RbY3F10:Eu3+ phosphor showed strong red/far-red emission overlapping with plant photoreceptors, indicating its potential for horticultural lighting.
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- author
- Milenković, Katarina ; Ristić, Zoran ; Pankratov, Vladimir ; Sarakovskis, Anatolijs ; Chernenko, Kirill LU ; Ribić, Vesna ; Dramićanin, Miroslav D. and Đorđević, Vesna
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-06
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Europium doping, Judd–Ofelt analysis, LED, Microwave-assisted solvothermal synthesis, Photoluminescence, RbYFnanocrystals
- in
- Ceramics International
- volume
- 52
- issue
- 15
- pages
- 11 pages
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105038219252
- ISSN
- 0272-8842
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.05.079
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2026 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.
- id
- 1fd0c4e6-fbba-43f1-8a36-a5410cafa4ea
- date added to LUP
- 2026-07-16 13:40:22
- date last changed
- 2026-07-16 13:40:43
@article{1fd0c4e6-fbba-43f1-8a36-a5410cafa4ea,
abstract = {{<p>Rubidium triyttrium decafluoride (RbY<sub>3</sub>F<sub>10</sub>) is a relatively unexplored low-phonon-energy fluoride host for lanthanide luminescent centers that shares structural similarities with KY<sub>3</sub>F<sub>10</sub>. In this study, Eu3+-doped RbY<sub>3</sub>F<sub>10</sub> nanocrystals were synthesized using a microwave-assisted solvothermal method, with phase selectivity systematically controlled by pH and complexing agents. Optimized conditions (decreased EDTA concentration at pH 9) produced phase-pure cubic RbY<sub>3</sub>F<sub>10</sub> with uniform nanocrystalline shape and stable incorporation of nominal Eu3+ concentrations up to 50 mol%. Low-temperature synchrotron photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy enabled the detailed identification of Eu3+ energy levels and revealed the excitonic band edge. Reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy (REELS) provided an independent estimate of the electronic bandgap. These complementary techniques provided two independent estimates of bandgap-related energies in the range of 9.3–11.8 eV, reported here for the first time. Eu3+ emission spectra displayed sharp f–f transitions and long excited state lifetimes (>5 ms at ≤10% Eu3+), indicating reduced multiphonon relaxation associated with the low-phonon-energy host, while nonradiative processes still contribute to the overall decay dynamics. Judd–Ofelt analysis further quantified radiative transition probabilities, suggesting largely consistent local environments for Eu3+ ions across doping levels. Finally, a proof-of-concept near-UV-pumped LED configuration using RbY<sub>3</sub>F<sub>10</sub>:Eu3+ phosphor showed strong red/far-red emission overlapping with plant photoreceptors, indicating its potential for horticultural lighting.</p>}},
author = {{Milenković, Katarina and Ristić, Zoran and Pankratov, Vladimir and Sarakovskis, Anatolijs and Chernenko, Kirill and Ribić, Vesna and Dramićanin, Miroslav D. and Đorđević, Vesna}},
issn = {{0272-8842}},
keywords = {{Europium doping; Judd–Ofelt analysis; LED; Microwave-assisted solvothermal synthesis; Photoluminescence; RbYFnanocrystals}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{15}},
pages = {{29962--29972}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Ceramics International}},
title = {{Phase control and luminescent properties of Eu3+-activated RbY<sub>3</sub>F<sub>10</sub> nanocrystals}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.05.079}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.ceramint.2026.05.079}},
volume = {{52}},
year = {{2026}},
}