In order to improve the luminescent efficiency of nanomaterials doped with RE3+ ions, a lot of approaches have been developed. In this study, trivalent europium doped lanthanum zirconate (La2Zr2O7:Eu3+) core nanoparticles (NPs) were first synthesized morphology-controllably via a facile molten salt synthetic process, and were coated with yttrium orthoborate (YBO3) shell in the next step. These formed novel heterostructured La2Zr2O7:Eu3+@YBO3 core@shell NPs were characterized mainly using power x-ray diffraction, transmission and scanning electron microscopes, and their photoluminescence was carefully studied. More importantly, the effect of different experimental processing parameters on the structure, morphology and luminescence properties of these core@shell nanoparticles was explored. The core nanoparticles possess a unprecedented high concentration quenching, which is ~32.5% of europium dopants in the La2Zr2O7 host due to the even distribution of Eu3+ ion enabled by our facile synthetic process. Moreover, luminescent enhancement was observed after the La2Zr2O7:Eu3+ core NPs were coated with the thin YBO3 shell. Based on optical transition property analysis and fluorescent decay measurement, the reduction of non-radiative transition rate is possibly responsible for the luminescent enhancement. Moreover, the improvement of the symmetry around the Eu3+ ions in the La2Zr2O7:Eu3+ core NPs was found after the YBO3 shell coating. These special properties allow these nanoparticles as excellent candidates for broad applications in various many fields, such as lasers, signal storage, bio/medical imaging and diagnostics, solar energy conversion, and disinfection of surfaces and water.

Core@Shell RE:A2B2O7@A'B'O3 nanoparticles: Synthesis and luminescence properties

247th National Meeting (2014)

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