Deposition of luminescence YBO3:Eu3+,Gd3+ on ferromagnetic Fe@C nanoparticles

• The Fe@C@YBO3:Eu3+,Gd3+ composites with core–shell were synthetized.
• Their structure, magnetic and luminescent properties are researched.
• Their luminescent properties are discussed under magnetic field.

The magnetic and photoluminescent Fe@C@YBO3:Eu3+,Gd3+ nanocomposite with core–shell structure has been synthesized by a hydrothermal process. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to determine the structure and morphology of the nanocomposites. Vibrating specimen magnetometer (VSM) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) were used to analyze magnetic and luminescence properties of the nanocomposite. In the nanocomposites, the amorphous carbon layer acts as coupling agent, and it can conduct the excited electrons between magnetic part and luminescent part. The luminescence properties of Fe@C@YBO3:Eu3+,Gd3+ nanocomposite are discussed under magnetic field. Under the external magnetic field for 2 h, the nanocomposite displayed the biggest luminescent intensity.