Electrospinning-derived Tb2(WO4)3:Eu3+ nanowires: energy transfer and tunable luminescence properties

Abstract

One-dimensional Tb(2)(WO(4))(3) and Tb(2)(WO(4))(3):Eu(3+) nanowires have been prepared by a combination method of sol-gel process and electrospinning. X-Ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL), low voltage cathodoluminescence (CL) and time-resolved emission spectra as well as kinetic decays were used to characterize the resulting samples. The as-obtained precursor samples present fiber-like morphology with uniform size, and Tb(2)(WO(4))(3) and Tb(2)(WO(4))(3):Eu(3+) nanowires were formed after annealing. Under ultraviolet excitation and low-voltage electron beams excitation into WO(4)(2-) and the f-f transition of Tb(3+), the Tb(2)(WO(4))(3) samples show the characteristic emission of Tb(3+) corresponding to (5)D(4)-(7)F(6, 5, 4, 3) transitions due to an efficient energy transfer from WO(4)(2-) to Tb(3+), while Tb(2)(WO(4))(3):Eu(3+) samples mainly exhibit the characteristic emission of Eu(3+) corresponding to (5)D(0)-(7)F(0, 1, 2) transitions due to an energy transfer occurs from WO(4)(2-) and Tb(3+) to Eu(3+). The increase of Eu(3+) concentration leads to the increase of the energy transfer efficiency from Tb(3+) to Eu(3+). The PL color of Tb(2)(WO(4))(3):x mol% Eu(3+) phosphors can be tuned from green to red easily by changing the doping concentration (x) of Eu(3+), making the materials have potential applications in fluorescent lamps and color display fields.