Lutetium oxide, usually activated with Eu³⁺ ions has been widely studied as a potential ionizing radiation detector.  The interest in this compound comes from its unique characteristic: high density (9,4 g/cm³), high effective atomic number (Zeff. = 67,3), which result in very high absorption coefficient for X-rays.  Chemical and physical stability of lutetia are also high.
Nanocrystalline powders of Lu₂O₃ doped with 5% of Eu³⁺ with respect to Lu were synthesized by homogenous precipitation with urea at 80 ^oC and subsequently annealing of the raw powder at various temperatures up to 1300 ^oC.  The homogenous precipitation from water solution was carry out in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol as a surfactant and Li₂SO₄, which we found a good modifier preventing agglomeration upon heating at higher temperatures.
Structure and morphology of the materials were investigated using X-ray Powder Diffraction and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) techniques.  Spectroscopic properties were characterized using absorption, photoluminescence and radioluminescence spectroscopy.
XRD patterns, presented in Fig. 1, show transformation of the raw, basically amorphous material into Lu₂O₂SO₄ and finally to Lu₂O₃ upon heating.  Pure oxide phase forms at 1100^oC but to complete removing of OHˉgroups, which have deleterious influence on luminescent properties, annealing at 1200 ^oC is necessary.  In the presentation we shall discuss the properties of the powders in detail. 

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