Photophysical properties of Eu3+-doped C12H14O16Zn3 phosphor obtained by a facile hydrothermal method

Zinc citrate is an organic salt complex prepared with organic carboxylate and inorganic cation. In the study, a series of C12H14O16Zn3: Eu3+ phosphors were synthesized through a facile hydrothermal method and then the as-prepared phosphors were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and photoluminescence (PL) spectrometer. The morphology of C12H14O16Zn3: Eu3+ phosphors was a flake with the size of 1～10 μm × 0.5～5 μm and the length-width ratio of 0.2-20. The strongest emission peak of C12H14O16Zn3: Eu3+ at 621 nm was ascribed to 5Do→7F2 transition of Eu3+ and the peaks centered at 590, 653 and 702 nm respectively corresponded to 5Do→7F1, 7F3, and 7F4 transitions. C12H14O16Zn3: Eu3+ gave the red light emission, as indicated by color coordinate analysis. The photoluminescence intensity of the phosphors prepared under the Eu3+ concentration of 7% was the highest. As a new kind of phosphor, C12H14O16Zn3: xEu particles may be applied in biological fluorescent tags and luminescent materials.