Warm white light emitting ThO2:Sm3+ nanorods: Cationic surfactant assisted reverse micellar synthesis and Photoluminescence properties

Sm3+ activated thorium oxide nanorods were synthesized by cationic surfactant assisted reverse micellar route. Phase purity, morphological and luminescent properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Upon UV light excitation (245 nm), ThO2:Sm3+ exhibited host emission at 447 nm, along with characteristic emission lines of Sm3+ at 569, 609, 662 and 716 nm. Lifetime spectroscopy shows the presence of two types of Sm3+ (τ = 1.1 ms and 4.9 ms) with different asymmetric ratios.