Abstract
<jats:p>Nanostructured lutetium oxide powders doped with erbium ions were obtained by thermochemical synthesis (combustion) and are promising for the formation of laser ceramics and scintillators. The starting materials for the synthesis were nitrate salts of lutetium and erbium, obtained by dissolving lutetium and erbium oxides in nitric acid. Acetic acid was used as a complexing agent and a combustible-reducing agent, and polyvinyl alcohol was used as a dispersing agent for separating agglomerates. Studies of the morphological and structural characteristics using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy showed that Lu2О3 : Er3+ powder samples calcined at 850 °С, have a quasi-spherical particle shape with sizes of 48–86 nm. It was shown that the obtained powders exhibit intense luminescence in the visible and IR spectral regions with centers at 560 and 1530 nm with excitation at the wavelength of 378 nm</jats:p>