Electrospinning synthesis and luminescence properties of one-dimensional La9.33(SiO4)6O2: Ln3+ (Ln = Ce, Eu, Tb) microfibers

Abstract

One-dimensional La_9.33(SiO₄)₆O₂: Ln³⁺ (Ln = Ce, Eu, Tb) microfibers were fabricated by a simple and cost-effective electrospinning method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), photoluminescence (PL) and low voltage cathodoluminescence (CL) as well as kinetic decay were used to characterize the resulting samples. SEM and TEM results indicated that the diameter of the microfibers annealed at 1000 °C for 3 h was 200–245 nm. The microfibers were further composed of fine and closely linked nanoparticles. La_9.33(SiO₄)₆O₂: Ln³⁺ (Ln = Ce, Eu, Tb) phosphors showed the characteristic emission of Ce³⁺ (5d → 4f), Eu³⁺ (⁵D₀ → ⁷F_J) and Tb³⁺ (⁵D_3,4 → ⁷F_J) under ultraviolet excitation and low-voltage electron beams (3–5 kV) excitation. An energy transfer from Ce³⁺ to Tb³⁺ was observed in the La_9.33(SiO₄)₆O₂: Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺ phosphor under ultraviolet excitation and low-voltage electron beam excitation. Luminescence mechanisms were proposed to explain the observed phenomena. Blue, red and green emission can be realized in La_9.33(SiO₄)₆O₂: Ln³⁺ (Ln = Ce, Eu, Tb) microfibers by changing the doping ions. So the La_9.33(SiO₄)₆O₂: Ln³⁺ (Ln = Ce, Eu, Tb) phosphors have potential applications in full-color field emission displays.