Synthesis, Characterization and Luminescent Properties of La2Zr2O7:Eu3+ Nanorods

Abstract

The Eu3+-doped La2Zr2O7phosphor with rod-like morphology was successfully synthesized by conventional solid state reaction and hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction patterns, transmission electron microscopy, and photoluminescence spectra were employed to characterize its structure and morphology as well as luminescent properties. The results indicated that the red-emitting phosphor La2Zr2O7:Eu3+ had well crystallized and belonged to the cubic structure with space group of Fd3m. The as-obtained product mainly appeared as straight nanorods with an average diameter of 47 nm and length of 50–700 nm. The possible growth mechanism was also discussed. It was found that under blue excitation with a wavelength of 466 nm, the La2Zr2O7:Eu3+ phosphor exhibited a characteristic red emission at 616 nm that was attributed to the hypersensitive D50→7F2electric dipole transition of Eu3+ ions. Meanwhile, it was more interesting to note that the emission of D51→7FJ (J=0, 1, 2) transitions and the splitting patterns of 5D0→7FJ (J=1, 2, 4) transitions of Eu3+ ions can be observed in the luminescent spectra of La2Zr2O7:Eu3+. It was demonstrated that Eu3+ preferred to occupy a low symmetry site.