Preparation of one-dimensional La2−xGdx(MoO4)3−y(WO4)y: Eu3+ amorphous materials by multiple irradiations and in polymeric gels

•A supersonic microwave co-assistance method was used to prepare phosphors.•The composites exhibited red emissions.•The phosphors were incorporated into soft materials.

Novel red-emitting Eu3+-activated La2−xGdx(MoO4)3−y(WO4)y phosphors with well-defined one-dimensional nanostructures were synthesized via a supersonic microwave co-assistance (SMC) method for the first time at very low temperature (60 °C). Scanning electron microscopy studies substantiated that these phosphors are very uniform. The crystal structure and luminescent properties were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD) and photoluminescence measurements (PL) respectively. An intense red emission at 615 nm (5D0 → 7F2) was detected under the excitation at 280 nm. The PL properties of La2−xGdx(MoO4)3−y(WO4)y: Eu3+ with different ratio of La/Gd or MoO4/WO4 have also been investigated in detail. Furthermore, the optimized phosphor was embedded into the poly-hydroxyethylmethacrylate(HEMA) gel and the corresponding luminescent gel was achieved.