Preparation and luminescence of rare-earth-activated Y2SiO5 thin films by metallorganic decomposition

The clear precursors of MxY2-xSiO5 (M = Eu, Sm, and Ce) were successfully s ynthesized by a metallorganic decomposition (MOD) technique for the first t ime. Dense and crack-free yttrium silicate (Y2SiO5)-based thin films appear to have the X-1-Y2SiO5 structure on quartz substrates after annealing abov e 900 degrees C. The photoluminescence (PL) and triboluminescence (TL) of t hese films were investigated. Results show that the europium-activated Y2Si O5 thin films possess higher PL and TL properties than the other Y2SiO5 thi n films activated with Ce and Sm ions. The PL intensity is so strong that t he red light emission at 611 nm is visible to the naked eye. The high TL in tensity appears in the pure Y2SiO5 thin film but it does not exist in the b ulk material. This indicates that preparation of luminescent films is not o nly beneficial for the fabrication of a planar display but also for improve ment in the luminescent property. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.