Facile Surfactant- and Template-Free Synthesis and Luminescent Properties of One-Dimensional Lu2O3:Eu3+ Phosphors

Uniform Lu 2 O 3:Eu 3+ nanorods and nanowires have been successfully prepared through a simple solution-based hydrothermal process followed by a subsequent calcination process without using any surfactant, catalyst, or template. On the basis of X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results, it can be assumed that the as-obtained precursors have the structure formula of Lu 4 O(OH) 9 (NO 3 ), which is a new phase and has not been reported. The morphology of the precursors could be modulated from nanorods to nanowires with the increase of pH value using ammonia solution. The as-formed precursors could transform to cubic Lu 2 O 3:Eu 3+ with the same morphology and a slight shrinkage in size after an annealing process. Both the Lu 2 O 3:Eu 3+ nanorods and nanowires exhibit the strong red emission corresponding to the 5 D 0 − 7 F 2 transition of the Eu 3+ ions under UV light excitation or low-voltage electron beam excitation.