Synthesis of CaWO4:Er3+@SiO2 and CaWO4:Tm3+@SiO2 nano-particles via a combustion pathway and study of their optical properties

Abstract

Use of citric acid as a chelating agent and fuel, ammonium nitrate as fuel, boric acid as flux material and silica as supports, CaWO4:Ln3+@SiO2 (Ln = Er and Tm) nanoparticles were synthesized via a combustion reaction at 800 °C. Characterization of the samples was performed by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), reflectance UV–Vis spectrophotometer, fluorescence spectrophotometer (PL) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). XRD patterns showed that tetragonal crystalline structure of scheelite and silica supports were formed, and that the formation of a silica support could enhance the luminescence intensity of CaWO4:Ln3+. The reflectance UV–Vis and PL spectra indicated the broad absorption band of WO42− groups about 240 nm, the WO42− wide excitation band with maximum at 240 nm, a broad emission band of WO42− with maximum about 420 nm, and characteristic emissions of Ln3+ ions. According to the TEM analysis, CaWO4:Er3+@SiO2 and CaWO4:Tm3+@SiO2 nanoparticles have almost the same morphology with average particle sizes about 50 nm.