Abstract
Nanostructured phosphors LaPO4:Eu3+/Tb3+ were prepared via a combined approach using microwave heating and a bifunctional solvent (ethylene glycol) acting as both microwave absorber and capping agent. The synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. All samples crystallized in a monoclinic monazite-type structure. Electron microscopy analysis revealed a hierarchical organization of self-assembled seed crystals of lanthanum phosphate into nanoparticles that, in turn, gave rise to sponge-like aggregates. The co-doped samples exhibited self-activated blue luminescence from the host matrix, as well as red and green emissions due to the presence of Eu3+ and Tb3+ ions, respectively. Furthermore, the spectroscopic analysis indicated energy transfer from terbium to europium ions. The synthetic route described here is efficient to prepare nanomaterials with advanced optical properties, which exhibit a potential for applications in photonics, sensing and biolabelling.
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