Preparation and luminescent properties of Tb super(3+) doped Y sub(2)O sub(2)SO sub(4) microflakes

Tb super(3+) doped Y sub(2)O sub(2)SO sub(4) (Y sub(2)O sub(2)SO sub(4):Tb super(3+)) microflakes were prepared by a combination method of electrospinning and calcination. The two-dimensional microflakes had smooth surface and high radial/axial ratio. Crystal structures of the Y sub(2)O sub(2)SO sub(4):Tb super(3+) microflakes resulted in layer by layer growth in axial direction. A possible formation mechanism was proposed on the basis of experimental results, which indicated that poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) played the role of the nanostructure directing template and revealed the growth priority in radial direction. The microflakes showed a favourable fluorescent property symbolised by the characteristic green emission (541 nm) resulting from the super(5)D sub(4) arrow right super(7)F sub(5) transition of Tb super(3+) ions under 229 nm ultraviolet excitation. The maximum intensity of Tb super(3+) emission of the Y sub(2)O sub(2)SO sub(4):Tb super(3+) microflakes was 2.3 times stronger than that of the Y sub(2)O sub(2)SO sub(4):Tb super(3+) bulk powders with the same doping concentration.