Synthesis and enhanced photoluminescence of surface-modified barium borate nanorods

Well-dispersed barium borate nanorods with uniform diameters were synthesized successfully, using Na2B4O7 x 10H2O and Ba(NO3)2 as raw materials and oleic acid as a modifying agent. Oleic acid was used to modify the surface property of nanorods prepared from the precipitation reaction. TEM images confirmed that the synthesized sample presented nanorod morphology with a length of about 200-400 nm and an average diameter of 20 nm. Moreover, the photoluminescence properties of both pure and modified BaB2O4 nanorods were tested. After the surfaces of the nanorods were modified with oleic acid, the visible light emission of the sample centered at 380 and 400 nm became more intensive. It was discussed that the enhancement of the luminescence intensity was attributed to the formation of surface BaB2O4/oleic acid complexes.