The fabrication of one-dimensional Ca4Y6(SiO4)6O: Ln3+ (Ln = Eu, Tb) phosphors by electrospinning method and their luminescence properties

One-dimensional Ca4Y6(SiO4)(6)O: Ln(3+) (Ln = Eu, Tb) microfibers were fabricated by a simple and cost-effective electronspinning method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) confirmed that the fibers were composed of hexagonal Ca4Y6(SiO4)(6)O phase. Thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) results showed that the Ca4Y6(SiO4)(6)O phase began to crystallize at 740 degrees C. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results indicated that the diameter of as-prepared microfibers ranged from 390 to 900 nm and the diameter of the microfibers annealed at 1000 degrees C ranged from to 120 to 260 nm. Under ultraviolet and low-voltage electron beams (3-5 kV) excitation, the Ca4Y6(SiO4)(6)O: Ln(3+) (Ln = Eu, Tb) samples showed the red and green emission, corresponding to D-5(0) -> F-7(2) transition of Eu3+ and D-5(4) -> F-7(5) transition of Tb3+, respectively. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.