Trailblazing 1D gadolinium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG: Gd3+) nanofibers for UV-optimized applications

Abstract

This research presents a novel approach to fabricating Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (YAG) nanofibers doped with Gadolinium (Gd³⁺) ions using the electrospinning technique. Rare earth-doped electrospun nanofibers, known for their exceptional performance, attract significant interest for applications in flexible display devices. While Gd³⁺-doped YAG materials have been studied, this is the first instance of their synthesis in nanofiber form, enhancing their optical and emission properties, particularly in the ultraviolet-B i.e. UV-B (280–315 nm) range. The study aims to develop and characterize these nanofibers with varying Gd³⁺ concentrations (x = 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 mol%), employing techniques like X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and photoluminescence to analyze structural integrity, surface morphology, and luminescence. XRD confirmed the pure YAG phase after calcination at 950 °C for 2 hrs, and the nanofibers showed a strong emission peak at 313 nm under 274 nm excitation corresponding to the ⁶P_7/2 → ⁸S_7/2 transition, with optimal photoluminescence at 1 mol% Gd³⁺ doping. These results highlight the potential of Gd³⁺-doped YAG nanofibers for advanced applications in flexible electronics and UV-based display devices.