Hydrothermal synthesis and tunable luminescent properties of Sr2−xDyxCeO4 rod-like phosphors derived from co-precipitation precursors

Uniform rod-like Sr2−xDyxCeO4 nano-phosphors with orthorhombic structure were prepared via a hydrothermal method, in the absence of any surfactant or template. The structure, morphology, particle size, and tunable luminescence properties of the samples were investigated by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), UV–vis absorption and photoluminescence spectrum, respectively. The as-prepared phase-pure Sr2−xDyxCeO4 nanorods had the length of 50–150 nm and width of 80 nm. The Dy3+ ions emission in Sr2−xDyxCeO4 could be effectively excited through the energy absorbed by Sr2CeO4 host. The tunable photoluminescence has been observed from Sr2CeO4 doped with Dy3+ ions. Emission color of Sr2−xDyxCeO4 phosphor could be regulated from blue-white to white to yellow by adjusting the Dy3+ doping content in Sr2CeO4 host, which originated from energy transfer between two different emission centers.