Simultaneous structure and luminescence property control of barium carbonate nanocrystals through small amount of lanthanide doping

Abstract

Rare earth doping has been widely applied in many functional nanomaterials with desirable properties and functions, which would have a significant effect on the growth process of the materials. However, the controlling strategy is limited into high concentration of lanthanide doping, which produces concentration quenching of the lanthanide ion luminescence with an increase in the Ln3+ concentration, resulting in lowering the fluorescence quantum yield of lanthanide ion. Herein, for the first time, we demonstrate simultaneous control of the structures and luminescence properties of BaCO3 nanocrystals via a small amount of Tb3+ doping strategy. In fact, Tb3+ would partially occupy Ba2+ sites, resulting in the changes to the structures of the BaCO3 nanocrystals, which is primarily determined by charge modulation, including the contributions from the surfaces of crystal nuclei and building blocks. These structurally modified nanocrystals exhibit tunable luminescence properties, thus emerging as potential candidates for photonic devices such as light-emitting diodes and color displays.