Hydrothermal synthesis, controlled microstructure, and photoluminescence of hydrated Zn3(PO4)2: Eu3+ nanorods and nanoparticles

In this article, Zn₃(PO₄)₂: Eu³⁺ nanorods and nanoparticles have been prepared by the hydrothermal method. The optimum pH value has been found at the range of 3–8 for the preparation of orthorhombic Zn₃(PO₄)₂: Eu³⁺, whose morphologies are affected by the pH value. At the same temperature for hydrothermal reaction, the product presents nanorods at pH 4, while it shows nanoparticles at pH 6. Furthermore, the influences of the hydrothermal reaction temperature on the morphology and microstructure have also been investigated, suggesting that the morphology and microstructure cannot be changed with the hydrothermal temperature at the same pH value. Finally, the photoluminescence of Eu³⁺ on Zn₃(PO₄) nanorod/nanoparticle have been studied, both of which present the characteristic emission lines of Eu³⁺ and the ⁵D₀–⁷F₁ transition corresponds the strongest emission. This indicates that Eu³⁺ occupied the inversion center in Zn₃(PO₄) host.