Controllable synthesis and tunable luminescence of NaLa(MoO4)2 hierarchical architectures with diverse dimensions and morphologies

•NaLa(MoO4)2 with diverse morphologies was fabricated via a solvothermal method.•The morphology and size can be tuned by altering the reaction conditions.•The NaLa(MoO4)2:Ln3+ exhibit intense characteristic down/upconversion luminescence.•The facile synthesis strategy may be of significance for other lanthanide molybdates.

Well-defined sodium lanthanum molybdate [NaLa(MoO4)2] microcrystals with a variety of morphologies (microspheres, ellipsoids, microspindles, microflowers, etc.) have been fabricated via a mild and controllable solvothermal method. The whole process was carried out without any organic surfactant, template, or catalyst. The morphology and size of the NaLa(MoO4)2 particles can be tuned in a controlled manner by altering the pH value of the initial solution, reaction temperature, and composition of solvent. Upon ultraviolet (UV) or near infrared (NIR) excitation, the as-synthesized NaLa(MoO4)2:Ln3+ phosphors exhibit intense characteristic down-conversion or up-conversion luminescence, respectively. The dependence of NaLa(MoO4)2:Ln3+ luminescence intensity on different particle sizes and morphologies has been also investigated. The facile synthesis strategy may be extended to the synthesis of other well-defined lanthanide molybdate materials.

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