Properties of Ce3+ -Doped Y3Al5O12 Phosphor Nanoparticles Formed by Laser Ablation in Liquid

Y3Al5O12: Ce3+ (YAG: Ce) nanoparticles were generated by the laser ablation from the micron-size YAG: Ce particles suspended in deionized water as a target suspension. The mean diameter of nanoparticles observed by a scanning electron microscopy were about 15-300 nm, and the morphology showed a dependence on an average energy density of Nd: YAG laser. The photoluminescence spectra exhibited peaks at 510 and 560 nm which are attributed to the 5d→4f transition of the Ce3+ activator. The luminescence intensity for the nanoparticles generated by the suspension increased with increasing the average energy density of Nd: YAG laser, and the intensity of 510 nm peak also exhibited higher than that for the nanoparticles generated by the micron-size particles precipitated on a bottom of vial. It was found that the laser ablation in liquid using the suspension was effective to generate the YAG: Ce phosphor nanoparticles.