LaOF:Eu3+ nanocrystals: hydrothermal synthesis, white and color-tuning emission properties

Uniform LaOF and LaOF : Eu(3+) nanocrystals of the γ-form have been successfully synthesized under mild conditions via a facile hydrothermal method followed a heat treatment of their bastnaesite-type precursor (LaCO(3)F). The synthetic details, investigations into the phase purity and the presence of the oxocarbonate anion CO(3)(2-) proven by IR measurements and EDX, as well as X-ray powder diffraction data, are given. Photoluminescence (PL) and cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra were utilized to characterize the luminescence properties of the LaCO(3)F : Eu(3+) and LaOF : Eu(3+) samples. Under ultraviolet light excitation, the LaCO(3)F : Eu(3+) precursor shows an orange emission of Eu(3+) (dominated by (5)D(0)→(7)F(1)), while the product of heat treatment, LaOF : Eu(3+), shows the characteristic emissions of Eu(3+) ((5)D(J)→(7)F(J')J, J' = 0, 1, 2, 3 transitions). Under the excitation of UV and low-voltage electron beams, the emission color (including white) of LaOF : Eu(3+) can be tuned by adjusting the doping concentration of Eu(3+). The corresponding luminescence mechanisms have been discussed in detail.