Surface effects on the optical and photocatalytic properties of graphene-like ZnO:Eu3+ nanosheets

The graphene-like ZnO:Eu3+ (ZEO) nanosheets with different Eu3+ doping concentrations are synthesized successfully by a simple hydrothermal method. We utilize the native surface effect in the ZEO nanosheets for the first time to certify the resonant energy transfer mechanism from the ZnO host to the Eu3+ ions by means of the power-dependent photoluminescence technique. Meanwhile, to further explore the functional applications of the graphene-like ZEO, we also characterize their photocatalytic activity on the Rhodamine B dye and reveal that both the higher specific surface area and Eu3+ doping lead to the higher degradation efficiency of ZEO nanosheets. (C) 2013 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4776225]