Issue 11, 2014

Multifunctional ScF3:Ln3+ (Ln = Tb, Eu, Yb, Er, Tm and Ho) nano/microcrystals: hydrothermal/solvothermal synthesis, electronic structure, magnetism and tunable luminescence properties

Abstract

A facile, hydrothermal/solvothermal route has been developed to synthesize a series of multifunctional lanthanide ion (Tb3+, Eu3+, Yb3+, Tm3+, Er3+ and Ho3+)-activated ScF3 nanocrystals. The morphology and size of ScF3 can be tuned in a controlled manner by altering the additives and volume ratios of H2O : EtOH in the initial solution. Under ultraviolet (UV), vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) or low-voltage electron-beam excitation, the as-obtained Tb3+, Eu3+ codoped ScF3 product exhibits multicolor photoluminescence (PL) and cathodoluminescence (CL), and possible luminescence mechanisms are discussed. Moreover, under 980 nm excitation, upconversion (UC) emissions have been achieved in Yb3+–Er3+, Yb3+–Tm3+, and Yb3+–Ho3+ codoped ScF3. Ferromagnetic property of ScF3 is detected due to the nanocrystal defects. The results obtained indicate that the lanthanide ion-doped ScF3 nanocrystals exhibit multicolor UV/VUV PL, CL, and UC luminescence as well as ferromagnetic properties. Thus, they may have potential applications in PL areas, field emission display devices, bioseparation and magnetic resonance imaging.

Graphical abstract: Multifunctional ScF3:Ln3+ (Ln = Tb, Eu, Yb, Er, Tm and Ho) nano/microcrystals: hydrothermal/solvothermal synthesis, electronic structure, magnetism and tunable luminescence properties

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
25 Jan 2014
Accepted
28 Mar 2014
First published
01 Apr 2014

Nanoscale, 2014,6, 5907-5917

Author version available

Multifunctional ScF3:Ln3+ (Ln = Tb, Eu, Yb, Er, Tm and Ho) nano/microcrystals: hydrothermal/solvothermal synthesis, electronic structure, magnetism and tunable luminescence properties

L. Han, Y. Wang, L. Guo, L. Zhao and Y. Tao, Nanoscale, 2014, 6, 5907 DOI: 10.1039/C4NR00512K

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