The photoluminescent properties of europium and terbium ions co-doped one-dimensional gadolinium orthophosphate nanorods and microcrystals

The europium/terbium ion-doped gadolinium orthophosphate nanorods and microcrystals phosphors were synthesized by the hydrothermal reaction and solid-phase reaction, respectively. The structures, morphologies, and luminescent behaviors were compared. The microcrystals can obtain higher quantum efficiency compared with nanorods because of the different structures (monoclinic and hexagonal). In the ultraviolet-visible region, the gadolinium ions absorbed energy then transferred to europium and terbium ions. The energy transfer from terbium to europium existed both in microcrystals and in nanorods, and it was confirmed that the energy transfer efficiency from terbium to europium in nanorods is higher than that in microcrystals.