One-Dimensional Ce³⁺- and/or Tb³⁺-Doped X₁-Y₂SiO₅ Nanofibers and Microbelts: Electrospinning Preparation and Luminescent Properties

Abstract

One-dimensional X1-Y2SiO5:Ce3+ and -Tb3+ nanofibers and quasi-one-dimensional X1-Y2SiO5:Ce3+ and -Tb3+ microbelts have been prepared by a simple and cost-effective electrospinning process. X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence (PL), and cathodoluminescence spectra were used to characterize the samples. SEM results indicate that the as-prepared fibers and belts are smooth and uniform with a length of several tens to hundreds of micrometers, whose diameters decrease after being annealed at 1000 °C for 3 h. Under ultraviolet excitation and low-voltage electron beam excitation, the doped rare earth ions show their characteristic emission, that is, Ce3+ 5d−4f and Tb3+ 5D4−7FJ (J = 6, 5, 4, 3) transitions, respectively. PL excitation and emission spectra demonstrated that there is an energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ in the X1-Y2SiO5:Ce3+,Tb3+ samples. Additionally, the X1-Y2SiO5:Ce3+ and -Tb3+ microbelt phosphors show a higher emission intensity than that of nanofiber phosphors under UV and low-voltage electron beam excitation.