Well-defined barium molybdate hierarchical architectures with different morphologies: Controllable synthesis, formation process, and luminescence properties

Uniform and well-dispersed BaMoO4 hierarchical microspheres and microflowers have been synthesized via a simple surfactant-assistant hydrothermal route. The as-synthesized BaMoO4:Ln3+ (Ln=Eu, Tb, Dy, and Sm) phosphors show intense characteristic emissions under ultraviolet light excitation. [Display omitted] •Uniform BaMoO4 microspheres and microflowers have been synthesized via a hydrothermal route.•The reaction conditions have great effect on the size and morphology of the products.•The BaMoO4:Ln3+ (Ln=Eu, Tb, Dy, and Sm) samples show characteristic emissions under UV excitation. Uniform and well-dispersed barium molybdate (BaMoO4) hierarchical microspheres and microflowers have been successfully synthesized via a hydrothermal route by using sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS) as surfactant. The reaction conditions, including SDBS additive, pH value of the initial solution, as well as reaction temperature, have great effect on the size and morphology of the BaMoO4 products. The possible formation process of the BaMoO4 microspheres has been investigated by time-dependent experiments. The as-synthesized BaMoO4:Ln3+ (Ln=Eu, Tb, Dy, and Sm) phosphors show intense characteristic red, green, green–yellow, and orange–red emissions under ultraviolet light excitation, which might find potential applications in the fields of light emitting phosphors, advanced flat panel displays, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs).