Preparation and luminescence properties of Lu(2)O(3):Eu(3+) nanofibers by sol-gel/electrospinning process

One-dimensional Lu(2)O(3):Eu(3+) nanofibers have been prepared by a combination method of sol-gel process and electrospinning technology. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), photoluminescence (PL), and cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra were used to characterize the samples. The XRD, FT-IR and TG-DTA results show that Lu(2)O(3):Eu(3+) samples crystallize at 900 degrees C. SEM images indicate that as prepared precursor samples and those annealed at 900 degrees C present uniform fiberlike morphology. After being heated at 900 degrees C, the diameters of fibers decrease greatly, ranging from 90 to 180nm. TEM image further manifests that the as-formed Lu(2)O(3):Eu(3+) nanofibers consist of nanoparticles (the crystallite size is about 16.5nm). Under the short wavelength ultraviolet irradiation and the low-voltage electron beam excitation, Lu(2)O(3):Eu(3+) nanofibers all exhibit typical red ((5)D(0)-(7)F(J)) emission. The optimum doping concentration of Eu(3+) in the Lu(2)O(3) nanofibers also has been investigated.