G. Wakefield, H. A. Keron, P. Dobson
Apr 1, 1999
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Journal
Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids
Abstract
Abstract Terbium oxide nanoparticles were produced by a colloidal chemical technique. High resolution transmission electron microscopy has identified particles with a mean size of 4.2 nm crystallised in the cubic phase. Optical absorption spectroscopy has ruled out the presence of any Tb 4+ ions in the nanoparticles, thereby confirming the chemical composition as Tb 2 O 3 . A strong absorption peak at 225 nm corresponds to the 4f 8 → 4f 7 5d transition. Under excitation at 254 nm the nanoparticles exhibit strong green luminescence corresponding to 5 D 4 → 7 F n = 3,4,5,6 transitions of Tb 3+ ions. No blue transitions from the 5 D 3 state were observed. The quantum efficiency of the nanoparticle luminescence is 37%.