The fabrication of one-dimensional Ca4Y6(SiO4)6O: Ln3+ (Ln=Eu, Tb) phosphors by electrospinning method and their luminescence properties

Abstract: One-dimensional Ca4Y6(SiO4)6O: Ln3+ (Ln=Eu, Tb) microfibers were fabricated by a simple and cost-effective electrospinning method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) confirmed that the fibers were composed of hexagonal Ca4Y6(SiO4)6O phase. Thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry (TG–DSC) results showed that the Ca4Y6(SiO4)6O phase began to crystallize at 740°C. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results indicated that the diameter of as-prepared microfibers ranged from 390 to 900nm and the diameter of the microfibers annealed at 1000°C ranged from to 120 to 260nm. Under ultraviolet and low-voltage electron beams (3–5kV) excitation, the Ca4Y6(SiO4)6O: Ln3+ (Ln=Eu, Tb) samples showed the red and green emission, corresponding to 5D0 → 7F2 transition of Eu3+ and 5D4 → 7F5 transition of Tb3+, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]