The fabrication of one-dimensional Ca 4Y 6(SiO 4) 6O: Ln 3+ (Ln = Eu, Tb) phosphors by electrospinning method and their luminescence properties

Abstract

One-dimensional Ca 4Y 6(SiO 4) 6O: Ln 3+ (Ln = Eu, Tb) microfibers were fabricated by a simple and cost-effective electrospinning method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) confirmed that the fibers were composed of hexagonal Ca 4Y 6(SiO4) 6O phase. Thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry (TG–DSC) results showed that the Ca 4Y 6(SiO4) 6O phase began to crystallize at 740 °C. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results indicated that the diameter of as-prepared microfibers ranged from 390 to 900 nm and the diameter of the microfibers annealed at 1000 °C ranged from to 120 to 260 nm. Under ultraviolet and low-voltage electron beams (3–5 kV) excitation, the Ca 4Y 6(SiO 4) 6O: Ln 3+ (Ln = Eu, Tb) samples showed the red and green emission, corresponding to 5D 0 → 7F 2 transition of Eu 3+ and 5D 4 → 7F 5 transition of Tb 3+, respectively.