Combustion synthesis and luminescent properties of Dy3+-doped La2Sn2O7 nanocrystals

A new combustion method for preparation of Dy3+-doped La2Sn2O7 nanocrystals is presented. The morphologies of the as-synthesized nanocrystals are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron micrograph (TEM). The pyrochlore structure nanocrystals less than 50 nm with a hexagonal morphology are synthesized for the first time. The luminescent properties of these nanocrystals have been investigated by fluorescence measurements at room temperature. The results indicate that the energy transfers from the La2Sn2O7 host to dysprosium ions.