Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of La sub(2)Zr sub(2)O sub(7):Eu super(3+)BO sub(3) corehell nanoparticles

Novel heterostructured La sub(2)Zr sub(2)O sub(7):Eu super(3+)BO sub(3) corehell nanoparticles (NPs) composed of a trivalent europium doped lanthanum zirconate (La sub(2)Zr sub(2)O sub(7):Eu super(3+)) core and yttrium orthoborate (YBO sub(3)) shell are reported in this paper for the first time. X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopies, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were employed to confirm the formation of the heterostructured corehell NPs. Luminescent enhancement was observed after the La sub(2)Zr sub(2)O sub(7) :Eu super(3+) core NPs were coated with the thin YBO sub(3) shells under 405 nm excitation. Based on optical transition property analysis and fluorescent decay measurement, the reduction of non-radiative transition rate is possibly responsible for the luminescent enhancement. Moreover, an improvement of the symmetry around the Eu super(3+) ions in the La sub(2)Zr sub(2)O sub(7):Eu super(3+) core NPs was found after the YBO sub(3) shell coating.