Synthesis and characterisation of terbium activated yttrium tantalate phosphor

Terbium activated yttrium tantalate (YTaO 4:Tb) samples were prepared by solid-state reaction from homogeneous mixtures of Y 2O 3 and Ta 2O 5 for host-lattice formation, Tb 4O 7 or Tb(NO 3) 3·5H 2O as activator source and Li 2SO 4, Na 2SO 4, CsF, Na 4P 2O 7 or Na 2B 4O 7 as flux. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements, FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy revealed that PL properties are influenced by the degree of crystalline order and particle morphology and sizes regulated during the thermal synthesis. The effect of flux and terbium concentration on the morpho-structural characteristics and PL properties of YTaO 4:Tb powder is reported.