Tartaric acid-assisted co-precipitation synthesis of Er^3＋-doped Lu203 nanopowders

Erbium-doped lutetia nanopowders were synthesized by a novel co-precipitation method using tartaric acid as precipitant. The properties of the samples were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy （FTIR）, X-ray diffraction （XRD）, TG-DSC, field emission scanning electron microscopy （FE-SEM）, and upconversion luminescence analysis. Pure cubic Lu2Oa nanopowders were directly obtained when the precursor was calcined at 800 ℃ for 2 h, the samples showed strong upconversion luminescence under excitation of 980 nm laser diode.