Electrochemical preparation and photoluminescence of Y1.95Eu0.05O3 hierarchical nanosheets

Large scale Y1.95Eu0.05O3 hierarchical nanosheets were synthesized from aqueous solution containing Y(NO3)3, Eu(NO3)3, and NH4NO3 with a current density of 2.0 mA·cm− 2 at 343 K via a simple and efficient electrodeposition method. The H2 gas bubbles functioning as a dynamic template are responsible for the growth of ordered Eu doped Y2O3 nanosheets. The thickness of these nanosheets in the range of 5–20 nm, and Y1.95Eu0.05O3 nanosheets with the cubic phase are obtained after calcining at 600 °C for 1 h in air. The correlation between the structure and the photoluminescence properties of the as-prepared and calcined nanosheets was also investigated.

Graphical abstractHerein, a large scale of Y1.95Eu0.05O3 nanosheets with hierarchical structure were assembled by a facile and hard-template-free electrodeposition. As shown in Fig. 3, H2 bubbles obtained play an important role as dynamic template in the whole process of electrodeposition. And insets SEM show this growth process of nanosheets.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch Highlights► Thin and uniform Y1.95Eu0.05O3 nanosheets were synthesized by electrochemistry method. ► A possible growth mechanism was proposed, in which the H2 bubbles play a role as a dynamic template. ► Crystalline Y1.95Eu0.05O3 was obtained after calcining. ► The structure and unique luminescent properties of the Y1.95Eu0.05O3 nanosheets have been investigated.