BaGdF5:Dy3+,Tb3+,Eu3+ multifunctional nanospheres: paramagnetic, luminescence, energy transfer, and tunable color

Abstract

A series of Dy³⁺,Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ singly, doubly or triply doped BaGdF₅ phosphors were synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method with L-arginine, and their energy transfer, migrations and multicolored luminescence properties were investigated in detail. The as-prepared Dy³⁺,Tb³⁺ or Eu³⁺ doped samples showed strong blue, green and red emission, respectively. Different hues of green and red light were obtained by co-doped Dy³⁺,Tb³⁺ and Tb³⁺,Eu³⁺ in the BaGdF₅ host, respectively. More significantly, in the Dy³⁺,Tb³⁺,Eu³⁺ tri-doped BaGdF₅ phosphors, colors changed from yellow green to orange red by adjusting the doping concentration of Eu³⁺. Energy migrations from Dy³⁺ to Tb³⁺ and from Tb³⁺ to Eu³⁺ are reported in detail. Furthermore, the obtained samples exhibit paramagnetic properties at room temperature and low temperature. It is obvious that these Dy³⁺, Tb³⁺, Eu³⁺ singly or doubly or triply doped BaGdF₅ nanomaterials with tunable multicolored luminescence properties may have potential applications in the fields of full-color displays, biological labels and bio-separation.