Ion exchanged LaF3:Tb3+ based inorganic–organic hybrid nanostructures and their strong luminescence

Tb3+ doped LaF3 (LaF3:Tb3+) is an important green light emitting material, but the low optical absorption cross-section of Tb3+ ions strongly limits its luminescence properties. In this work, we used an ion exchange method to prepare LaF3:Tb3+ based inorganic–organic hybrid nanostructures, which exhibited strong luminescence as a result of luminescence sensitization, an energy transfer process from the organic ligands to the Tb3+ ions. The undoped LaF3 nanoparticles were first synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method, and Tb3+ ions were then ion exchanged into these LaF3 nanoparticles to form the LaF3:Tb3+ nanoparticles, which were then used to prepare the inorganic–organic hybrid nanostructures with benzoic acid. The LaF3:Tb3+ based inorganic–organic hybrid nanostructures had an emission intensity more than 44 times stronger than the as-prepared LaF3:Tb3+ nanoparticles. Dependence of their luminescence on the Tb3+ doping concentration and amount of organic ligands was studied in detail.