Facile surfactant-free synthesis and luminescent properties of hierarchical europium-doped lutetium oxide phosphors

Novel three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical architectures of Lu2O3:Eu3+ have been successfully prepared through a simple hydrothermal process followed by a subsequent calcination process without using any surfactant, catalyst, or template. According to the X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results, the precursors were determined to have the structure formula of Lu4O(OH)9NO3. The morphologies of the precursors could be modulated by altering pH value of the reaction system. On the basis of detailed time-dependent experiments, the growth process of architectures was discussed. The as-formed precursors could transform into Lu2O3:Eu3+ with their original hierarchical structures maintained. The Lu2O3:Eu3+ submicro-architectures exhibit strong red emission corresponding to the 5D0 → 7F2 transition of the Eu3+ ions under ultraviolet (UV) excitation, which have potential applications in novel optoelectronic devices.

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► A facile surfactant-free method was used to prepare uniform hierarchical architectures of Lu2O3:Eu3+.
► The possible formation mechanism was well investigated.
► The effect of different morphologies on the luminescence performance was discussed.