Luminescence study of some yttrium tantalate-based phosphors

Yttrium tantalate (YTaO4), yttrium niobium-tantalate (YTaNbO4), yttrium niobate (YNbO4), europium and terbium activated yttrium tantalate (YTaO4:Eu, YTaO4:Tb) and europium activated yttrium niobate (YNbO4:Eu) phosphors were prepared by solid-state reaction, from a homogeneous mixture consisting of Y2O3, Eu2O3, Tb4O7, Ta2O5, Nb2O5 and Na2SO4 as flux. Photoluminescence (PL), thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of yttrium tantalate based phosphors are reported. In the present study TSL characteristics of these phosphors were first investigated and reported after exposure to beta, UV (311 nm) and X-ray radiations. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.