Synthesis of (La0.95Eu0.05)2O3 Red Phosphors with Hydroxide Nanowires as the Precursor: Template-free Hydrothermal Processing and Photoluminescent Properties

Ln(OH)(3)(Ln=La0.95Eu0.05) nanowires were successfully synthesized through hydrothermal reaction, without using any template, from mixed solutions of the component nitrates. It was shown that neither solution pH (7.5-13) nor hydrothermal temperature (120 and 150 degrees C) significantly influences the phase structure and particle morphology of the product. The resultant Ln(OH)(3) nanowires are of uniform dimension and good dispersion. A homogeneous Ln(2)O(3) solid solution was yielded by calcining the hydroxide nanowires in the air at >= 800 degrees C. Under 285 nm excitation, the Ln(2)O(3) phosphor exhibits the characteristic red emission of Eu3+ at similar to 630 nm and show emission behaviors clearly dependent on the calcination temperature, which were investigated in detail.