Solvothermal synthesis and luminescent properties of monodisperse LaPO4:Ln (Ln=Eu, Ce, Tb) particles

Monodisperse rare-earth ion (Eu³⁺, Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺) doped LaPO₄ particles with oval morphology were successfully prepared through a facile solvothermal process without further heat treatment. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), photoluminescence (PL) spectra and the kinetic decays were performed to characterize these samples. The XRD results reveal that all the doped samples are well crystalline at 180 °C and assigned to the monoclinic monazite-type structure of the LaPO₄ phase. It has been shown that all the as-synthesized samples show perfectly oval morphology with narrow size distribution. The possible growth mechanism of the LaPO₄:Ln has been investigated as well. Upon excitation by ultraviolet radiation, the LaPO₄:Eu³⁺ phosphors show the characteristic ⁵D₀−⁷F_1-4 emission lines of Eu³⁺, while the LaPO₄:Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺ phosphors demonstrate the characteristic ⁵D₄−⁷F_3-6 emission lines of Tb³⁺.     

Controlled synthesis and characterization of LaPO4, LaPO4:Ce3+ and LaPO4:Ce3+, Tb3+ by EDTA assisted hydrothermal method

LaPO₄, LaPO₄:Ce³⁺ and LaPO₄:Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺ particles with different morphologies and sizes have been successfully synthesized via a simple EDTA assisted hydrothermal method. The effects of the doping components, pH value, and the chelating reagent on the phases, structures and morphologies were well investigated by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Photoluminescent (PL) spectra and kinetic decays were used to characterize the fluorescent properties of the samples. The results reveal that all the samples are of high purity and assigned to the single-crystalline monoclinic structure of LaPO₄ phase. The aspects ratio of the nanostructures synthesized in acid synthetic condition is larger than those obtained in alkaline solution. Additionally, the Ce³⁺ or/and Tb³⁺ doped LaPO₄ particles show less smoother surface compared with pure LaPO₄. Furthermore, the tendency for anisotropic growth under hydrothermal conditions can be simply enhanced by selecting the chelating ligands (EDTA). The possible growth mechanism of the LaPO₄:Ln³⁺ (Ln = Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺) nanostructures has been proposed as well. Upon ultraviolet excitation, LaPO₄:Ce³⁺ and LaPO₄:Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺ phosphors show the characteristic 5d–4f emissions of Ce³⁺ and ⁵D₄–⁷F_j (j = 6–3) emission lines of Tb³⁺, respectively.     

Sol-gel deposition and luminescent properties of LaMgAl11O19:Ce/Tb phosphor films

Rare earth ions (Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺)-doped LaMgAl₁₁O₁₉ phosphor films were deposited on quartz glass substrates by Pechini sol-gel and dip coating method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), atomic force microscopy (AFM), field emission scanning electronic microscopy (FESEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectra, and lifetimes were used to characterize the resulting films. The results of XRD indicated that the magnetoplumbite structure LaMgAl₁₁O₁₉ phase can be obtained at 1200 °C on quartz glass substrates. This was further verified by the results of FT-IR and TG-DTA. AFM study showed that uniform films have an average grain size of 150 nm and a root mean square (RMS) roughness of 4 nm. The thickness of the films characterized by FESEM is about 340 nm. LaMgAl₁₁O₁₉:Ce³⁺ film showed the parity and spin allowed 5d-4f band emission of Ce³⁺ with a maximum at 350 nm. Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺-codoped LaMgAl₁₁O₁₉ films showed the band emission of Ce³⁺ and characteristic emission of Tb³⁺, namely, ⁵D_3,4-⁷F_J (J=6, 5, 4, 3) due to an efficient energy transfer from Ce³⁺ to Tb³⁺ in the host.     

Fabrication and luminescent properties of the core-shell structured YNbO4:Eu/Tb@SiO2 spherical particles

The core-shell structured YNbO₄:Eu³⁺/Tb³⁺@SiO₂ particles were realized by coating the YNbO₄:Eu³⁺/Tb³⁺ phosphors onto the surface of spherical silica via a sol-gel process. The obtained materials were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform IR spectroscopy (FT-IR), photoluminescence (PL) spectra, and cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra. The results indicate that 600 °C annealed samples consist of amorphous silica core and crystalline YNbO₄:Re shell, having perfect spherical morphology with uniform size distribution. Upon excitation by UV or electron beam, these phosphors show the characteristic ⁵D₀-⁷F_1-4 emission lines of Eu³⁺ and the characteristic ⁵D₄-⁷F_3-6 emission lines of Tb³⁺. The PL intensities of Eu³⁺ can be tuned by altering the annealing temperature and the coating number of YNbO₄:Eu³⁺ layers.     

Ca9Y(PO4)7:Ce3+,Tb3+纳米荧光粉的制备及发光性能

采用水热法制备出Ca₉Y（PO₄）₇：Ce³⁺,Tb³⁺纳米荧光粉,通过XRD、SEM和荧光光谱等对样品进行了分析,研究在Ca₉Y（PO₄）₇基质中引入Ce³⁺,Tb³⁺离子对发光性能的影响规律。研究发现因Tb³⁺离子自身能量交叉驰豫的存在,使得单掺Tb³⁺时,通过调节Tb³⁺离子的浓度可以实现对发光颜色的控制。同时研究了Ce³⁺-Tb³⁺之间的能量传递为电多极相互作用的偶极-四极机制,Ce³⁺-Tb³⁺之间最大的能量传递效率为55.6%。Ca₉Y（PO₄）₇：Ce³⁺,Tb³⁺的发光颜色可以通过激活离子之间的能量传递和共发射得到可控调节。SEM分析表明荧光粉颗粒尺寸在100 nm左右,分散性好。     

Uniform AMoO4:Ln (A=Sr, Ba; Ln=Eu, Tb) submicron particles: Solvothermal synthesis and luminescent properties

Rare-earth ions (Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺) doped AMoO₄ (A=Sr, Ba) particles with uniform morphologies were successfully prepared through a facile solvothermal process using ethylene glycol (EG) as protecting agent. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), photoluminescence (PL) spectra and the kinetic decays were performed to characterize these samples. The XRD results reveal that all the doped samples are of high purity and crystallinity and assigned to the tetragonal scheelite-type structure of the AMoO₄ phase. It has been shown that the as-synthesized SrMoO₄:Ln and BaMoO₄:Ln samples show respective uniform peanut-like and oval morphologies with narrow size distribution. The possible growth process of the AMoO₄:Ln has been investigated in detail. The EG/H₂O volume ratio, reaction temperature and time have obvious effect on the morphologies and sizes of the as-synthesized products. Upon excitation by ultraviolet radiation, the AMoO₄:Eu³⁺ phosphors show the characteristic ⁵D₀–⁷F_1–4 emission lines of Eu³⁺, while the AMoO₄:Tb³⁺ phosphors exhibit the characteristic ⁵D₄–⁷F_3–6 emission lines of Tb³⁺. These phosphors exhibit potential applications in the fields of fluorescent lamps and light emitting diodes (LEDs).     

Hydrothermal synthesis of core-shell structured PS@GdPO<Subscript>4</Subscript>:Tb<Superscript>3+</Superscript>/Ce<Superscript>3+</Superscript> spherical particles and their luminescence properties

Non-aggregated spherical polystyrene (PS) particles were coated with GdPO₄:Tb³⁺/Ce³⁺ phosphor layers by a conventional hydrothermal synthesis using poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) as an additive without further annealing treatment. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL), as well as luminescence decay experiments were used to characterise the resulting core-shell structured PS@GdPO₄:Tb³⁺/Ce³⁺ samples. The results of XRD indicated that the PS particles were successfully coated with the GdPO₄:Tb³⁺/Ce³⁺ phosphor layers, which could be further verified by the images of FESEM. Under ultraviolet excitation, the PS@GdPO₄:Tb³⁺/Ce³⁺ phosphors show Tb³⁺ characteristic emission, i.e. ⁵D₄-⁷F_J (J = {6, 5, 4, 3}) emission lines with green emission ⁵D₄-⁷F₅ (543 nm) as the most prominent group. The core-shell phosphors so obtained have potential applications in field emission display (FED) and plasma display panels (PDP).     

Luminescence of NaGdFPO4:Ln after VUV excitation: A comparison with GdPO4:Ln (Ln=Ce, Tb)

The phosphors NaGdFPO₄:Ln³⁺ and GdPO₄:Ln³⁺ (for Ln³⁺=Ce³⁺ and Tb³⁺) were prepared by solid-state reaction technique, the VUV-vis spectroscopic properties of the phosphors were investigated, and we vividly compare the luminescence of Ce³⁺ and Tb³⁺ in the hosts. For phosphors GdPO₄:Ln³⁺, the band near 155 nm in VUV excitation spectrum is assumed to be the host-related absorption, and for NaGdFPO₄:Ln³⁺ the absorption is moved to longer wavelength, near 170 nm, showing the P-O bond covalency increased after fluoridation. The f-d transitions of Ce³⁺ and Tb³⁺ in the host lattices are assigned and corroborated, and it was found that the 5d states are with lower energy in NaGdFPO₄:Ln³⁺ than those in GdPO₄:Ln³⁺. For fluoridation of GdPO₄:Ln³⁺ to NaGdFPO₄:Ln³⁺, the energy change of Ln³⁺ (Ln=Ce, Tb) 5d states is consistent with that of host-related absorption.     

Ca9Y(PO4)7:Ce3+,Tb3+纳米荧光粉的制备及发光性能

采用水热法制备出Ca_9Y(PO4)7∶Ce~(3+),Tb~(3+)纳米荧光粉,通过XRD、SEM和荧光光谱等对样品进行了分析,研究在Ca_9Y(PO4)7基质中引入Ce~(3+),Tb~(3+)离子对发光性能的影响规律。研究发现因Tb~(3+)离子自身能量交叉驰豫的存在,使得单掺Tb~(3+)时,通过调节Tb~(3+)离子的浓度可以实现对发光颜色的控制。同时研究了Ce~(3+)-Tb~(3+)之间的能量传递为电多极相互作用的偶极-四极机制,Ce~(3+)-Tb~(3+)之间最大的能量传递效率为55.6%。Ca_9Y(PO4)7∶Ce~(3+),Tb~(3+)的发光颜色可以通过激活离子之间的能量传递和共发射得到可控调节。SEM分析表明荧光粉颗粒尺寸在100 nm左右,分散性好。     

Comparative study on the synthesis, photoluminescence and application in InGaN-based light-emitting diodes of TAG:Ce phosphors

Cerium-doped terbium aluminum garnet phosphors, Tb₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺ (TAG:Ce³⁺), were prepared with different methods: co-precipitation (CP), half dry-half wet (HDHW), sol-combustion (SC) and Pechini method plus conventional solid state reaction (SS) method. Comparative study on the phase-formation, particle size, morphologies and luminescent characteristics of the phosphors synthesized with different methods was carried out by means of XRD, FE-SEM and photoluminescence (PL) analysis and SC method was confirmed by the comparison of the results to be an easy and an effective process for preparing efficient and nano-sized Tb₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺ phosphors. Various factors influencing particle size, morphology and PL of the phosphors, such as precursor preparation, reaction temperature and heating time, were also investigated. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were fabricated with each phosphor and a ∼460 nm emitting InGaN chip. The LEDs from SS, HDHW and CP exhibit strong white emission while those from SC and Pechini emit yellow, revealing that the emission characteristics of LEDs are influenced not only by the morphology and the particle size of the phosphors, but also by the preparing process of the phosphors.     

Synthesis, vacuum ultraviolet and near ultraviolet-excited luminescent properties of GdCaAl3O7: RE (RE=Eu, Tb)

Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) excitation and photoluminescent (PL) properties of Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ion-doped aluminate phosphors, GdCaAl₃O₇:Eu³⁺ and GdCaAl₃O₇:Tb³⁺ have been investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns indicate that the phosphor GdCaAl₃O₇ forms without impurity phase at 900 °C. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images show that the particle size of the phosphor is less than 3 μm. Upon excitation with VUV irradiation, the phosphors show a strong emission at around 619 nm corresponding to the forced electric dipole ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition of Eu³⁺, and at around 545 nm corresponding to the ⁵D₄→⁷F₅ transition of Tb³⁺. The results reveal that both GdCaAl₃O₇:RE³⁺ (RE=Eu, Tb) are potential candidates as red and green phosphors, respectively, for use in plasma display panel (PDP).     

Hydrothermal synthesis and luminescent properties of LuBO3:Tb microflowers

Hexagonal vaterite-type LuBO₃:Tb³⁺ microflower-like phosphors have been successfully prepared by an efficient surfactant- and template-free hydrothermal process directly without further sintering treatment. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), photoluminescence (PL) and cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra as well as kinetic decays were used to characterize the samples. The as-obtained phosphor samples present flowerlike agglomerates composed of nanoflakes with thickness of 40 nm and high crystallinity in spite of the moderate reaction temperature of 200 °C. The reaction mechanism has been considered as a dissolution/precipitation mechanism; the self-assembly evolution process has been proposed on homocentric layer-by-layer growth style. Under ultraviolet excitation into the 4f⁸→4f⁷5d transition of Tb³⁺ at 248 nm (or 288 nm) and low-voltage electron beam excitation, LuBO₃:Tb³⁺ samples show the characteristic green emission of Tb³⁺ corresponding to ⁵D₄→⁷F_{6, 5, 4, 3} transitions with the ⁵D₄→⁷F₅ transition (542 nm) being the most prominent group, which have potential applications in fluorescent lamps and field emission displays.     

Host-sensitized luminescence of Dy, Pr, Tb in polycrystalline CaIn2O4 for field emission displays

CaIn₂O₄:Dy³⁺/Pr³⁺/Tb³⁺ blue-white/green/green phosphors were prepared by the Pechini sol-gel process. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), diffuse reflectance, photoluminescence (PL) and cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra as well as lifetimes were utilized to characterize the samples. The XRD results reveal that the samples begin to crystallize at 800 °C and pure CaIn₂O₄ phase can be obtained after annealing at 900 °C. The FE-SEM images indicate that the CaIn₂O₄:Dy³⁺, CaIn₂O₄:Pr³⁺ and CaIn₂O₄:Tb³⁺ samples consist of spherical grains with size around 200-400 nm. Under the excitation of ultraviolet light and low-voltage electron beams (1-5 kV), the CaIn₂O₄:Dy³⁺, CaIn₂O₄:Pr³⁺ and CaIn₂O₄:Tb³⁺ phosphors show the characteristic emissions of Dy³⁺ (⁴F_9/2-⁶H_15/2 and ⁴F_9/2-⁶H_13/2 transitions, blue-white), Pr³⁺ (³P₀-³H₄, ¹D₂-³H₄ and ³P₁-³H₅ transitions, green) and Tb³⁺ (⁵D₄-⁷F_6,5,4,3 transitions, green), respectively. All the luminescence is resulted from an efficient energy transfer from the CaIn₂O₄ host lattice to the doped Dy³⁺, Pr³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions, and the corresponding luminescence mechanisms have been proposed.     

La7O6(BO3)(PO4)2:Eu3+/Tb3+荧光材料的制备及其光致发光性能

采用优化的高温固相方法制备了稀土离子Eu³⁺和Tb³⁺掺杂的La₇O₆（BO₃）（PO₄）₂系荧光材料,并对其物相行为、晶体结构、光致发光性能和热稳定性进行了详细研究。结果表明,La₇O₆（BO₃）（PO₄）₂：Eu³⁺材料在紫外光激发下能够发射出红光,发射光谱中最强发射峰位于616 nm处,为⁵D₀→⁷F₂特征能级跃迁,Eu³⁺的最优掺杂浓度为0.08,对应的CIE坐标为（0.610 2,0.382 3）;La₇O₆（BO₃）（PO₄）₂：Tb³⁺材料在紫外光激发下能够发射出绿光,发射光谱中最强发射峰位于544 nm处,对应Tb³⁺的⁵D₄→⁷F₅能级跃迁,Tb³⁺离子的最优掺杂浓度为0.15,对应的CIE坐标为（0.317 7,0.535 2）。此外,对2种材料的变温光谱分析发现Eu³⁺和Tb³⁺掺杂的La₇O₆（BO₃）（PO₄）₂荧光材料均具有良好的热稳定性。     

Polyol-mediated solvothermal synthesis and luminescence properties of CeF3, and CeF3:Tb nanocrystals

CeF₃ and CeF₃:Tb³⁺ nanocrystals were successfully synthesized through a facile and effective polyol-mediated route with ethylene glycol (EG) as solvent. Various experimental techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and photoluminescence (PL) spectra as well as decay dynamics were used to characterize the samples. The results indicated that the content of NH₄F and reactant concentrations were key factors in the product shape and size. Excessive NH₄F was necessary for the formation of hexagonal nanoplates. The specific morphology of product can be controlled by changing the NH₄F content and reactant concentrations. In addition, Tb³⁺ doped-CeF₃ sample shows strong green emission centered at 544 nm corresponding to the ⁵D₄-⁷F₅ transition of Tb³⁺. Due to the decrease of nonradiative decay rate, the lifetime of ⁵D₄ level of Tb³⁺ become longer gradually upon increasing the size of product.     

空气中合成固溶体荧光粉Ba2(Zn, Mg)Si2O7:Ce3+,Eu2+,Eu3+及其发光特性

采用高温固相法在空气中合成了Ba_1.97-yZn_1-xMg_xSi₂O₇:0.03Eu,yCe³⁺系列荧光粉。分别采用X-射线衍射和荧光光谱对所合成荧光粉的物相和发光性质进行了表征。在紫外光330~360 nm激发下,固溶体荧光粉Ba_1.97-yZn_1-xMg_xSi₂O₇:0.03Eu的发射光谱在350~725 nm范围内呈现多谱峰发射,360和500 nm处有强的宽带发射属于Eu²⁺离子的4f⁶5d¹-4f⁷跃迁,590~725 nm红光区窄带谱源于Eu³⁺的⁵D₀-⁷F_J (J=1,2,3,4)跃迁,这表明,在空气气氛中,部分Eu³⁺在Ba_1.97-yZn_1-xMg_xSi₂O₇基质中被还原成了Eu²⁺;当x=0.1时,荧光粉Ba_1.97Zn_0.9Mg_0.1Si₂O₇:0.03Eu的绿色发光最强,表明Eu³⁺被还原成Eu²⁺离子的程度最大。当共掺入Ce³⁺离子后,形成Ba_1.97-yZn_0.9Mg_0.1Si₂O₇:0.03Eu,yCe³⁺荧光粉体系,其发光随着Ce³⁺离子浓度的增大由蓝绿区经白光区到达橙红区;发现名义组成为Ba_1.96Zn_0.9Mg_0.1Si₂O₇:0.01Ce³⁺,0.03Eu的荧光粉的色坐标为(0.323,0.311),接近理想白光,是一种有潜在应用价值的白光荧光粉。讨论了稀土离子在Ba₂Zn_0.9Mg_0.1Si₂O₇基质中的能量传递与发光机理。     

NaBaPOM4:Tb3+绿色荧光粉制备及其发光特性

采用高温固相法合成了NaBaPOM₄:Tb³⁺绿色荧光粉, 并研究了材料的发光性质. NaBaPOM₄:Tb³⁺材料呈多峰发射, 发射峰位于437、490、543、587和624 nm, 分别对应Tb³⁺的⁵D₃→⁷F₄和⁵D₄→⁷F_{J=6, 5, 4, 3}跃迁发射, 主峰为543 nm; 监测543 nm发射峰, 所得激发光谱由4f⁷5d¹宽带吸收(200-330 nm)和4f-4f 电子吸收(330-400 nm)组成, 主峰为380 nm. 研究了Tb³⁺掺杂浓度, 电荷补偿剂Li⁺、Na⁺、K⁺和Cl^-, 及敏化剂Ce³⁺对NaBaPOM₄:Tb³⁺材料发射强度的影响. 结果显示: 调节激活剂浓度、添加电荷补偿剂或敏化剂均可以在很大程度上提高材料的发射强度.     

A new promising phosphor, Na3La2(BO3)3:Ln (Ln=Eu, Tb)

We present an efficient way to search a host for ultraviolet (UV) phosphor from UV nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. With the guidance, Na₃La₂(BO₃)₃ (NLBO), as a promising NLO material with a broad transparency range and high damage threshold, was adopted as a host material for the first time. The lanthanide ions (Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺)-doped NLBO phosphors have been synthesized by solid-state reaction. Luminescent properties of the Ln-doped (Ln=Tb³⁺, Eu³⁺) sodium lanthanum borate were investigated under UV ray excitation. The emission spectrum was employed to probe the local environments of Eu³⁺ ions in NLBO crystal. For red phosphor, NLBO:Eu, the measured dominating emission peak was at 613 nm, which is attributed to ⁵D₀-⁷F₂ transition of Eu³⁺. The luminescence indicates that the local symmetry of Eu³⁺ in NLBO crystal lattice has no inversion center. Optimum Eu³⁺ concentration of NLBO:Eu³⁺ under UV excitation with 395 nm wavelength is about 30 mol%. The green phosphor, NLBO:Tb, showed bright green emission at 543 with 252 nm excited light. The measured concentration quenching curve demonstrated that the maximum concentration of Tb³⁺ in NLBO was about 20%. The luminescence mechanism of Ln-doped NLBO (Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺) was analyzed. The relative high quenching concentration was also discussed.     

Sensitization of Tb3+ luminescence with Ce3+ in LaOBr: Tb3+, Ce3+

Luminescence emission and uv-excitation properties of LaOBr: Tb³⁺, LaOBr: Ce³⁺, and LaOBr: Tb³⁺, Ce³⁺ phosphors were studied. The visible emission spectra of La_0.995Tb_0.005OBr consists of⁵D_3,4 →⁷F_3–6 transitions in the wavelength range of 410–630 nm. The excitation of the Tb³⁺ ion gives a broad 4f → 5d transition band at 254 nm and weaker4f → 4f transition lines above 300 nm. The uv-excitation and emission of La_0.995Ce_0.005OBr at 290, 315, 355 (excitation), and 440 nm (emission) originate from transitions between the 4f-ground state and the four crystal field components of the5d²D excited state. The sensitization of Tb³⁺ luminescence in LaOBr with Ce³⁺ at varying concentrations is described and discussed. With increasing Ce³⁺ concentration the ⁵D₃ →⁷F transitions of Tb³⁺ quench totally and the⁵D₄ →⁷F transitions begin to quench gradually. The excitation spectrum of the⁵D₄ →⁷F₅ transition of Tb³⁺ consists of four bands due to Tb³⁺ and Ce³⁺, of which the three Ce³⁺ bands increase in intensity and the Tb³⁺ band decreases as the Ce³⁺ concentration is increased.     

Sonochemical synthesis and luminescence properties of single-crystalline BaF2:Eu nanospheres

BaF₂ nanocrystals doped with 5.0 mol% Eu³⁺ has been successfully synthesized via a facile, quick and efficient ultrasonic solution route employing the reactions between Ba(NO₃)₂, Eu(NO₃)₃ and KBF₄ under ambient conditions. The product was characterized via X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron micrographs (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron micrographs (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. The ultrasonic irradiation has a strong effect on the morphology of the BaF₂:Eu³⁺ particles. The caddice-sphere-like particles with an average diameter of 250 nm could be obtained with ultrasonic irradiation, whereas only olive-like particles were produced without ultrasonic irradiation. The results of XRD indicate that the obtained BaF₂:Eu³⁺ nanospheres crystallized well with a cubic structure. The PL spectrum shows that the BaF₂:Eu³⁺ nanospheres has the characteristic emission of Eu^{3+ 5}D₀-⁷F_J (J=1-4) transitions, with the magnetic dipole ⁵D₀-⁷F₁ allowed transition (590 nm) being the most prominent emission line.