Synthesis and Luminescence Properties of Terbium-Doped Lanthanum Oxychloride Nanostructures

LaOCl:Tb3+ nanofibers, nanotubes and nanobelts were prepared via electrospinning combined with a double-crucible chlorination technique using NH4Cl powders as chlorinating agent. Different morphologies of LaOCl:Tb3+ nanostructures were obtained through adjusting some of the electrospun parameters. The as-prepared LaOCl:Tb3+ nanostructures are tetragonal in structure with space group of P4/nmm. The diameters of LaOCl:Tb3+ nanofibers, nanotubes and the width of LaOCl:Tb3+ nanobelts are respectively 133.99 ± 16.95 nm, 140.57 ± 17.82 nm and 5.32 ± 0.63 μm under the 95% confidence level. Under the excitation of 230-nm ultraviolet light, the LaOCl:Tb3+ nanostructures emit the predominant emission peaks at 544 nm originated from the energy levels transition of 5D4 --> 7F5 of Tb3+ ions. The optimum molar percentage of Tb3+ in the LaOCl:Tb3+ nanofibers is 7%. LaOCl:Tb3+ nanobelts exhibit the strongest PL intensity of the three nanostructures under the same doping molar concentration. The possible formation mechanisms of LaOCl:Tb3+ nanostructures are also proposed.