Synthesis of Eu3+-activated ZnO superstructures: Photoluminescence, Judd–Ofelt analysis and Sunlight photocatalytic properties

•Various morphologies of ZnO:Eu3+ NPs were prepared by facile phyto route.•Red nanophosphor could be a promising candidate for white light emitting diodes.•Radiative properties of nanophosphors predicted by Judd–Ofelt analysis.•ZnO:Eu3+ (9 mol%) exhibited superior sunlight photocatalysis.

Photoluminescence and photocatalytic properties of Eu-doped ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by facile phyto route. XPS results demonstrated the existence of Eu3+ as dopant into ZnO. Morphologies of the NPs were mainly dependent on Eu3+ and Aloe vera gel. Red shift of energy band gap was due to the creation of intermediate energy states of Eu3+ and oxygen vacancies in the band gap. PL emission of ZnO:Eu3+ (1–11 mol%, 8 ml and 7 mol%, 2–12 ml) exhibit characteristic peaks of 5D0 → 7F2 transitions. From the Judd–Ofelt analysis, intensities of transitions between different J levels dependent on the symmetry of the local environment of Eu3+ ions. CIE chromaticity co-ordinates confirm reddish emission of the phosphor. Further, NPs exhibit excellent photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Rhodamine B (94%) under Sunlight was attributed to crystallite size, band gap, morphology and oxygen vacancies. In addition, photocatalyst reusability studies were conducted and found that Eu-doped catalyst could be reused several times with negligible decrease in catalytic activity. The present work directs new possibilities to provide some new insights into the design of new phyto synthesized nanophosphors for display devices, photocatalysts with high activity for environmental clean-up and solar energy conversion.

Graphical abstractPhyto route synthesis of ZnO:Eu3+ (1–11 mol%) NPs with various morphology for display device as well as for Sunlight photocatalysis for environmental clean-up and solar energy conversion.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (168 K)Download as PowerPoint slide