"One-Stone-Two-Birds" Modulation for Na3ScF6-Based Novel Nanocrystals: Simultaneous Morphology Evolution and Luminescence Tuning

Control over the morphology, size, and crystallographic phase of nanocrystals (NCs) through impurity doping is central to the realization of their unprecedented or improved properties. Herein we present the "one-stone-two-birds" modulation including simultaneous modification of the morphology and tuning of the luminescence for Na3ScF6 based NCs via a simple doping strategy. Ce3+/Tb3+ codoped Na3ScF6 NCs with monoclinic structure and hexagonal nanoplate or nanorod morphology were obtained through a modified solvothermal method. The formation of monodisperse Na3ScF6-based NCs with diverse architectures closely correlates with the doping level of Tb3+. On the basis of the experimental results, the possible growth mechanism for nanoparticles is proposed. Under UV light excitation, Na3ScF6:Ce3+/Tb3+ samples exhibited characteristic emissions from both Ce3+ and Tb3+ ions. By proper variation of the amount of Tb3+ doping while maintaining Ce3+ concentration, the emission color tuned from blue to green accompanied by the shape evolution from hexagonal nanoplate to short nanorod. Furthermore, the higher quantum yield from the current nanostructures compared with those of a LaPO4-based nanophosphor indicated that this scandium-containing sample is a promising green emission phosphor candidate for lighting and display applications.