Surfactant effect on and luminescence tuning of lanthanide-doped ScPO4·2H2O microparticles

Abstract

Herein we report the effect of surfactant molecules, i.e., trisodium citrate, on the morphology, size evolution, as well as the growth mechanism of ScPO₄·2H₂O:Ln (Ln = Ce/Tb/Eu, Yb/Er) microparticles, which are synthesized via a one-pot hydrothermal method. The up- and down-conversion photoluminescence and dynamics of ScPO₄·2H₂O:Ln microparticles, including the decay time, quantum efficiency, and the energy transfer mechanism with different dopants, are further investigated. Finally, a potential application of these materials as luminescent display inks is demonstrated.