Synthesis and photoluminescence of Y2O3:Yb3+–Er3+ nanofibers

The influence of the solvent ratio in the hydrothermal synthesis of co-doped Y2O3:Yb3+–Er3+, via CTAB complex, is presented. The nanophosphors for two different ethanol/water solvent ratios, 1:1 and 1:3, shown the following features: the samples exhibit cubic phase, TEM image of the sample synthesized using a 1:3 solvent ratio shows a homogeneous nanofibers morphology in opposition with the sample obtained from a 1:1 solvent ratio which reveals different morphologies prevailing big irregular particles. In both cases the absorption spectra are similar as well as the upconversion emission. These results suggest that the solvent ratio plays an important role in the morphology and on the luminescence properties of the nanostructured materials.