Solvothermal synthesis of mesoporous Eu2O3-TiO2 composites

Here we report a facile route to synthesize mesoporous Eu2O3-TiO2 composites by simultaneous decomposition of europium nitrate hexahydrate and hydrolysis of tetrabutyl titanate in ethanol solution with Pluronic P123 as a pore-directing agent at a relatively low temperature of 120 °C. The as-prepared products were characterized with different techniques, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption/desorption analysis, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. TEM and N2 adsorption/desorption analysis show that the Eu2O3-TiO2 composite possesses mesoporous structures. The XRD results demonstrate that the products are amorphous. Besides the emission band of TiO2 at about 450 nm, the composite exhibits emission bands at 590 and 615 nm that originate from Eu3+.