Hydrothermal synthesis and luminescence properties of uniform BaMoO4:Ln3+ (Ln=Eu, Tb, Dy, and Sm) microspheres

Uniform and well-dispersed BaMoO4:Ln3+ (Ln=Eu, Tb, Dy, and Sm) microspheres have been synthesized through a hydrothermal approach by using trisodium citrate as surfactant. The BaMoO4:Ln3+ (Ln=Eu, Tb, Dy, and Sm) phosphors show strong light emissions with different colors coming from different activator ions under ultraviolet light excitation. [Display omitted] ► A facile synthesis route was developed to synthesize BaMoO4 microspheres. ► The BaMoO4 microspheres are uniform and well-dispersed. ► The possible formation process of the BaMoO4 microspheres was discussed. ► The Ln3+-doped BaMoO4 microspheres show strong light emissions with different colors. Uniform and well-dispersed BaMoO4:Ln3+ (Ln=Eu, Tb, Dy, and Sm) microspheres have been successfully synthesized through a facile hydrothermal approach by using trisodium citrate as surfactant. XRD results demonstrate that Ln3+-doped samples can be well indexed to the pure tetragonal scheelite-type BaMoO4, indicating that the Eu3+, Tb3+, Dy3+, and Sm3+ have been effectively doped into the BaMoO4 host lattices. SEM and TEM images indicate that the as-obtained BaMoO4 microspheres consist of tiny packed nanocrystallites. The as-synthesized BaMoO4:Ln3+ (Ln=Eu, Tb, Dy, and Sm) phosphors show strong light emissions with different colors coming from different activator ions under ultraviolet light excitation, which may find potential applications in light phosphor powders and advanced flat panel display devices.