Synthesis and optical properties of chromium-doped spinel hollow nanofibers by single-nozzle electrospinning

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Novel spinel hollow nanofibers were synthesized by a convenient single-nozzle electrospinning technique. Based on the composition and morphology results by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), a ‘gas-push’ model was proposed to elucidate the formation mechanism of hollow nanofibers during calcination. Photoluminescence (PL) properties of calcined ZnAl2O4: xCr3+ and MgAl2O4: xCr3+ nanofibers were investigated systematically. Under an excitation of 400 nm or 530–550 nm (4A2g→4T1g or 4A2g→4T2g transitions of Cr3+ ions), an emission band at 675–725 nm including a sharp emission line (R-line) at ∼687 nm with several vibrational sidebands was obtained. Compared with the spectroscopic properties of ZnAl2O4: xCr3+ nanofibers, the emission band was broadened and the decay lifetime was shortened for MgAl2O4: xCr3+ nanofibers. By calculation of crystal field strength, the value of Dq/B is estimated to be 3.25 and 2.72 for ZnAl2O4: xCr3+ and MgAl2O4: xCr3+ nanofibers, respectively. The difference of crystal field strength gives a good explanation of the spectroscopic and decay evolution between ZnAl2O4: xCr3+ and MgAl2O4: xCr3+ nanofibers.