Microwave-assisted solvothermal synthesis and characterization of SnO2:Eu3+ phosphors

SnO2:Eu3+ phosphors were successfully synthesized via a microwave-assisted solvothermal route. The solvents used significantly influenced the morphology and luminescent properties of the obtained phosphors. Using ethanol as the solvent resulted in the formation of spherical phosphors with enhanced luminescent intensity. SnO2:Eu3+ phosphors exhibited reddish-orange emission under excitation at 314 nm, and displayed a broad excitation band in the range of 240-370 nm due to host absorption. In the microwave irradiation process, increasing the urea concentration led to enhanced luminescent intensity as a result of complete precipitation of Eu3+ ions.