A novel strategy to synthesize Gd sub(2)O sub(2)S:Eu super(3+) luminescent nanobelts via inheriting the morphology of precursor

(ProQuest: ... denotes formulae and/or non-USASCII text omitted; see image).Gd sub(2)O sub(3):Eu super(3+) nanobelts were fabricated by calcination of the electrospun PVP/[Gd(NO sub(3)) sub(3) + Eu(NO sub(3)) sub(3)] composite nanobelts. For the first time, Gd sub(2)O sub(2)S:Eu super(3+) nanobelts were successfully prepared via inheriting the morphology and sulfurization of the as-prepared Gd sub(2)O sub(3):Eu super( 3+) nanobelts precursor using sulfur powders as sulfur source by a double-crucible method we newly proposed. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that Gd sub(2)O sub(2)S:Eu super(3+) nanobelts were pure hexagonal in structure with space group P... m1. Scanning electron microscope analysis results showed that the width and thickness of the Gd sub(2)O sub(2)S:Eu super(3+) nanobelts were ca. 2.1 mu m and 129 nm, respectively. Under the excitation of 330-nm ultraviolet light, Gd sub(2)O sub(2)S:Eu super(3+) nanobelts emitted red emissions of predominant peaks at 628 and 618 nm which were attributed to the super(5)D sub(0) arrow right super(7)F sub(2) energy levels transitions of the Eu super(3+) ions. It was found that the optimum doping molar concentration of Eu super(3+) ions in Gd sub(2)O sub(2)S:Eu super(3+) nanobelts was 5 %. Possible formation and sulfurization mechanisms of Gd sub(2)O sub(2)S:Eu super(3+) nanobelts were also proposed. This new sulfurization technique is of great importance, not only can inherit the morphology of rare earth oxides, but also can fabricate pure-phase rare earth oxysulfides at low temperature compared with conventional sulfurization method.