Synthesis and luminescence properties of oxyapatite NaY9Si6O26 doped with Eu3+, Tb3+, Dy3+ and Pb2+

Oxyapatite NaY9Si6O26 was prepared by sol-gel method. By choosing the precursors, a single phase compound was obtained. This soft chemical method lowered the reaction temperature by 100degreesC compared with the solid state method. Its morphology was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Several rare earth ions (Eu3+, Tb3+, Dy3+) and Pb2+ ion were doped in this compound. The high resolution emission spectrum of Eu3+ showed that rare earth ions occupied two yttrium sites. In spite of the charge imbalance of Pb2+ with the cations in this compound, it was found that Pb2+ could emit in UV range and transfer its excitation energy to Dy3+ ion.