Uniform SrMoO4:Ln3+ (Ln=Eu, Tb, Dy, and Sm) hierarchical microspheres: Facile synthesis and luminescence properties

•Uniform SrMoO4 hierarchical microspheres have been synthesized via a facile hydrothermal approach.•The reaction conditions have great effect on the particle size and morphology of the products.•The SrMoO4:Ln3+ samples show characteristic emissions with different colors under UV excitation.

Uniform and well-dispersed SrMoO4 hierarchical microspheres have been synthesized via a facile citrate-assisted hydrothermal approach. The as-obtained particles are non-aggregated with narrow size distribution and are composed of closely packed nanoparticles. The reaction conditions, including trisodium citrate additive, pH value of the initial solution, as well as reaction temperature and time, have great effect on the particle size and morphology of the products. The as-synthesized SrMoO4:Ln3+ (Ln=Eu, Tb, Dy, and Sm) samples show intense characteristic emissions with different colors under ultraviolet excitation, which may find potential applications in the fields of fluorescent lamps, color displays, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs).