**3. Results and discussion**

having a diameter of about 2.5 cm, and thickness of about 0.4 cm is attained. Then, the annealed

36 Applications of Laser Ablation - Thin Film Deposition, Nanomaterial Synthesis and Surface Modification

**Figure 1.** Photograph of different experimental methods demonstrating (a) homogeneously pelletized ceramic target, (b) high-temperature annealed target, (c) cleaning of substrates, (d) target loading, (e) loading of substrates, (f) impurities removal in UHV chamber (glow discharge), (g) laser ablation, (h) target after ablation, (i) thin films after deposi-

The procedure for predeposition cleaning of substrates and growth of nano-thin phosphor

The morphology of the product was analysed by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM-SUPRA 55). Using atomic force microscopy (NTEGRA PRIMA-NTMDT, USA), the surface topography of the thin phosphor films was studied. The crystal structure and phase purity of as-synthesized phosphor were recognized and confirmed by PANalytical's X'Pert PRO Materials Research X-ray Diffractometer (Almelo, USA) equipped with a CuKα radiation (λ = 0.154060 Å) at a scanning rate of 0.02°s−1 in a 2*θ* range of 15°–60°. Further, down-conversion PL excitation and emission studies and fluorescence decay time measurements were performed at room temperature using a Cary bench-top spectrophotometer (AGILENT Instru-

films were already discussed in detail on our previous work [2].

target is used for laser ablation.

tion.

**2.2. Characterization**

ments, USA).
