NaGdF4:Eu3+ nanocrystalline: an in-depth study of energy transfer processes and Judd-Ofelt analysis using the luminescence excitation spectrum.

Abstract

NaGdF4 nanocrystalline doped with different concentrations of Eu3+ ions were synthesized using the precipitation method. The structure and morphology of the material were investigated through the measurements of the XRD patterns and SEM images, respectively. The optical properties of the NaGdF4:Eu3+ nanocrystalline were studied in the framework of the Judd-Ofelt theory in which the Ωλ parameters were calculated by two methods: the traditional method using the luminescence spectra and the self-referenced method using the luminescence excitation spectra. In NaGdF4:Eu3+ nanocrystalline, the Gd3+ ions in the lattice act as sensitizer centers for the luminescence of Eu3+ ions under excitation at 272 and 310 nm. The energy transfer process from Gd3+ to Eu3+ causes the emission enhancement of Eu3+ ions. Upon excitation by the characteristic wavelengths of Gd3+, the luminescence efficiency of the Eu3+ ions in NaGdF4:Eu3+ is affected by two mechanisms: the emission of Gd3+ ions and the trapping of excited energy by the Eu3+ ions. The energy transfer between Eu3+ ions was also discussed in detail. This process leads to the enhancement of the luminescence bands originating from the 5D0 level. The dominant interaction between the Eu3+ ions in the energy transfer process is the dipole-dipole mechanism, which is determined by fitting the decay curve of the 5D2 level to the Inokuti-Hirayama model.