Uniform Eu3+-doped YF3 microcrystals: inorganic salt-controlled synthesis and their luminescent properties

Abstract

A variety of microstructured YF3:Eu3+ with different morphologies have been successfully synthesized using a simple inorganic salt as the only structure-directing agent in the hydrothermal system. The cations of Al3+, Li+, Mg2+, Na+, K+ and Ba2+ were found to determine the size and morphology of the as-prepared microstructured YF3. The prepared samples were systematically characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL) and photoluminescent excitation spectra (PLE). Detailed proofs indicated that the process of growing different morphologies of YF3:Eu3+ microparticles were dominated by different growth mechanisms. Furthermore, photoluminescent properties were also investigated.