Decay dynamics of Eu super(3+)/Tb super(3+) in solution-processed Y sub(2)O sub(3)

As new synthesis techniques are developed to create phosphors with smaller particles the physical processes that govern luminescence behaviors, like efficiency and decay rates, are influenced by the large surface-to-volume ratios of the nano-structured materials. Decay of lanthanide excited states, following pulsed laser excitation, is used to probe the affect of size-induced decay channels on the luminescent properties. We report results on the decay dynamics of europium and terbium excited states in solution-produced yttrium oxide. Radiative decay from the Eu super(3+) super(5)D sub(0) state is found to be well described by a single exponential function [MathML equation] over a range of concentrations (0.01-2.0%). The Tb super(3+) super(5)D sub(4) decay exhibits a distribution of decay rates over the concentration range 0.01-5.0%. The distribution of decay rates is discussed using a probability density function based on the Kohlrausch decay function.