Synthesis and luminescence properties of LaOCl:Eu3+ nanostructures via the combination of electrospinning with chlorination technique

LaOCl:Eu3+ nanofibers, nanobelts and nanotubes were prepared by electrospinning combined with a double-crucible chlorination technique using NH4Cl as chlorinating agent. Different morphologies of LaOCl:Eu3+ were obtained via adjusting some of the electrospun parameters. X-ray powder diffraction analysis indicated that LaOCl:Eu3+ nanostructures were tetragonal with space group P4/nmm. Scanning electron microscope analysis and histograms revealed that diameters LaOCl:Eu3+ nanofibers and nanotubes, and the width of LaOCl:Eu3+ nanobelts were respectively 198.64 +/- A 15.07, 168.86 +/- A 24.70 and 2.103 +/- A 0.3345 mu m under the 95 % confidence level. Transmission electron microscope observation showed that as-obtained LaOCl:Eu3+ nanotubes were hollow-centered structure. Photoluminescence (PL) analysis manifested that the LaOCl:Eu3+ with different morphologies emitted the predominant emission peaks at 616 and 618 nm originating from the transition D-5(0) -> F-7(2) of Eu3+ ions under the excitation of 283-nm ultraviolet light. It was found that the optimum molar ratio of Eu3+/(La3++Eu3+) ions was 5 %. LaOCl:Eu3+ nanobelts exhibited the strongest PL intensity of the three morphologies under the same doping concentration. CIE analysis demonstrated that color-tuned luminescence can be obtained by changing doping concentration of Eu3+ ions and morphologies of nanomaterials, which could be applied in the fields of optical telecommunication and optoelectronic devices. The possible formation mechanisms of LaOCl:Eu3+ nanofibers, nanobelts and nanotubes were also proposed.