Issue 46, 2014

Crystal phase transition in LixNa1−xGdF4 solid solution nanocrystals – tuning of optical properties

Abstract

The influence of precursor composition on the crystallization of LixNa1−xGdF4 is investigated and discussed. Nanocrystals are prepared from the thermal decomposition of trifluoroacetates in the presence of trioctylphosphine oxide to provide control over particle size. A crystal phase transition from hexagonal to cubic and to tetragonal is observed by increasing lithium trifluoroacetate (Li-TFA) in the solution. Controlling the composition of LixNa1−xGdF4 nanocrystals results in modified crystal field symmetry and emission properties from doped europium (Eu3+) ions. We report that for lithium (Li+) substitution <15%, the hexagonal crystal field is preferred, while the Eu3+ emission is already tuned, whereas at higher Li+ substitution, a phase change takes place and the number of crystalline matrix defects increases which is reflected in the optical properties of Eu3+. From Eu3+ emission properties, the optimum Li+ content is determined to be ∼6.2% in the prepared LixNa1−xGdF4 nanocrystals.

Graphical abstract: Crystal phase transition in LixNa1−xGdF4 solid solution nanocrystals – tuning of optical properties

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
14 Jul 2014
Accepted
21 Sep 2014
First published
29 Sep 2014

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 9911-9917

Crystal phase transition in LixNa1−xGdF4 solid solution nanocrystals – tuning of optical properties

M. Banski, M. Afzaal, D. Cha, X. Wang, H. Tan, J. Misiewicz and A. Podhorodecki, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014, 2, 9911 DOI: 10.1039/C4TC01539H

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements