Single-step deposition of Eu-doped Y₂O₃ phosphor coatings through a precursor plasma spraying technique

Europium-doped yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺) luminescent coatings were produced in a single step directly from a solution precursor using a radio frequency induction plasma spray technique. Crystalline and luminescent coatings were grown on Si(100) and steel substrates by this process. X-ray diffraction analyses on these coatings confirmed that polycrystalline cubic Y₂O₃ phase formed in situ with no impurity phases. The observed photoluminescence from these coatings is in all probability due to the highly crystalline nature of the coating combined with submicron spherical morphology of the grains.