Homogeneous one-dimensional structured Tb(OH)3:Eu3+ nanorods: Hydrothermal synthesis, energy transfer, and tunable luminescence properties

Nearly monodisperse, homogeneous and well-defined one-dimensional Tb(1−x)(OH)3:xEu3+ (x=0–3 mol%) nanorods have been prepared through hydrothermal method. The size of the Tb(OH)3:Eu3+ rods could be modulated from nano- to micro-scale by using different amount of ammonia solution. They present highly crystallinity in spite of the moderate reaction temperature. Under ultraviolet excitation into the f→f transition of Tb3+ at 382 nm, Tb(OH)3 samples show the characteristic emission of Tb3+ corresponding to 5D4→7F6, 5, 4, 3 transitions; whereas Tb(OH)3:Eu3+ samples mainly exhibit the characteristic emission of Eu3+ corresponding to 5D0→7F1, 2, 4 transitions due to an efficient energy transfer occurs from Tb3+ to Eu3+. The increase of Eu3+ concentration leads to the increase of the energy transfer efficiency from Tb3+ to Eu3+. The PL colors of Tb(OH)3:xEu3+ phosphors can be easily tuned from green, yellow, orange, to red by changing the doping concentration (x) of Eu3+.