A strategy to synthesize highly luminescent GdVO4:Eu3+/CDs nanocomposite based on hydrothermal deposition method and its application in anti-counterfeiting

Abstract

Highly luminescent GdVO 4 :Eu 3+ /carbon dots (CDs) nanocomposite was synthesized by hydrothermal deposition method for the first time. With the use of dialyzed CDs solution as precursor, the synthetized composite shows negligible emission intensity of CDs. On replacing the dialyzed CDs solution with the crude one, highly luminescent composite can be obtained successfully. Based on the analysis of XPS and FT-IR spectra, one can deduce that the existence of a large amount of citrate anions, ethylenediamine cations and polymer-like CDs in the crude CDs solution make it as nutrient solution of CDs, which can not only facilitate growth of CDs on the surface of GVE, but also greatly prevent nitrogen atoms from falling off the particles during the hydrothermal deposition process. For the dialyzed CDs solution, due to the ions and polymer-like CDs being thoroughly dialyzed, the coated CDs are fragile during hydrothermal deposition process. Besides, the effects of different dosages of ammonia on emission intensities of the two composites are studied. Based on the designable patterns for security application, one can think that the highly luminescent composite is one of the most promising candidates in the anti-counterfeiting field. • Highly luminescent GdVO 4 :Eu 3+ /CDs nanocomposite was synthesized by hydrothermal deposition method. • The hydrothermal deposition method was used to synthesize highly luminescent composite related to CDs for the first time. • The crude CDs solution was used as precursor, which acts as the nutrient solution of N-CDs. • The nutrient solution can not only facilitate growth of CDs on the surface of GVE, but also greatly prevents nitrogen atoms from falling off the particles during hydrothermal deposition process. • The prepared composite is one of the most promising candidates in the anti-counterfeiting field.