One-Dimensional Ce3+- and/or Tb3+-Doped X1-Y2SiO5 Nanofibers and Microbelts: Electrospinning Preparation and Luminescent Properties

Abstract

One-dimensional X(1)-Y(2)SiO(5):Ce(3+) and -Tb(3+) nanofibers and quasi-one-dimensional X(1)-Y(2)SiO(5):Ce(3+) and -Tb(3+) microbelts have been prepared by a simple and cost-effective electrospinning process. X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence (PL), and cathodoluminescence spectra were used to characterize the samples. SEM results indicate that the as-prepared fibers and belts are smooth and uniform with a length of several tens to hundreds of micrometers, whose diameters decrease after being annealed at 1000 degrees C for 3 h. Under ultraviolet excitation and low-voltage electron beam excitation, the doped rare earth ions show their characteristic emission, that is, Ce(3+) 5d-4f and Tb(3+ 5)D(4)-(7)F(J) (J = 6, 5, 4, 3) transitions, respectively. PL excitation and emission spectra demonstrated that there is an energy transfer from Ce(3+) to Tb(3+) in the X(1)-Y(2)SiO(5):Ce(3+),Tb(3+) samples. Additionally, the X(1)-Y(2)SiO(5):Ce(3+) and -Tb(3+) microbelt phosphors show a higher emission intensity than that of nanofiber phosphors under UV and low-voltage electron beam excitation.