Hydrothermal synthesis, X-ray absorption and luminescence properties of Tb3+ doped LaPO4

- Nanorods LaPO4 with different sizes are prepared with hydrothermal method.
- Luminescence properties of bulk and nano LaPO4:Tb samples are compared.
- La, Tb and P contribute to luminescence positively at the measured absorption edges.
- At oxygen absorption edges, quantum efficiency of optical emission decreases.

Tb3+ activated LaPO4 nano-phosphors have been prepared by a hydrothermal method. Luminescence spectra in VUV-vis range as well as fluorescence decays were studied for bulk and nano-phosphors. Bulk sample exhibits a relatively fast decay time. The 5D3 emissions from Tb3+ ions increase under X-ray excitation in comparison with that under ultraviolet light excitation. X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) was employed to study the chemical environment and energy transfer efficiency to optical emission. XANES results across different element absorption edges indicate that the chemical environment does not change significantly, only oxygen contributes to luminescence negatively.