Europium fluoride based luminescent materials: From hydrogels to porous cryogels, and crystalline NaEuF4 and EuF3 micro/nanostructures

•Europium fluoride based hydrogels and cryogels are reported.•Emission of Eu3+ ions is dependent on their existing states and the adopted fluorides (NaF or NH4F).•The amorphous NaF- and NH4F-mediated cryogels show the strongest emission intensity.

Europium fluoride based hydrogels, porous cryogels, and crystalline NaEuF4 and EuF3 nanostructures were prepared by wet chemical route at room temperature by using NaF or NH4F as the reactants and gelation agents, in the absence of any other additives. The phase, morphology and thus resultant photoluminescence properties of luminescent products are demonstrated on the basis of the formation and evolution of europium fluoride complexes (EuF63−). The characteristic emission of Eu3+ ions is strongly dependent on their existing states and also the adopted fluorides (both cations and anions of NaF or NH4F). The amorphous NaF- and NH4F-mediated cryogels with highly porous structure and uniform distribution of optically active Eu3+ ions show much (one or two order) stronger luminescence intensity than their corresponding hydrogels and crystalline NaEuF4 and EuF3 nanostructures.

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