Tunable morphologies, multicolor properties and applications of RE3+ doped NaY(MoO4)2 nanocrystals via a facile ligand-assisted reprecipitation process

KLn(MoO4)2 micro/nanocrystals (Ln = La-Lu, Y): systematic hydrothermal crystallization, structure, and the performance of doped Eu3+ for optical thermometry

Systematic crystallization of KLn(MoO₄)₂ double molybdate micro/nanocrystals was achieved in this work for the family of lanthanide elements (excluding Pm) and Y via hydrothermal reaction under the optimized conditions of pH = 7, Mo/Ln molar ratio R = 5 and 200 °C, with which the intrinsic influence of lanthanide contraction on phase preference, crystallite morphology (size/shape) and crystal structure was clearly revealed. Extended synthesis also produced KLa_1-xEu_x(MoO₄)₂ (KLM:xEu) and KY_1-yEu_y(MoO₄)₂ (KYM:yEu) red phosphors, and detailed spectral analysis found that the layered structure of orthorhombic KYM allows Eu³⁺ to have a high quenching content of ∼70 at% (y = 0.7) and higher quantum efficiency and thermal stability of luminescence. Application also indicated that the KYM:0.7Eu optimal phosphor has the potential for optical temperature sensing with the thermally coupled ⁵D₀ and ⁵D₁ energy levels of Eu³⁺.

NaY(MoO4)2-based nanoparticles: synthesis, luminescence and photocatalytic properties

We report on a novel synthesis method, which produces NaY(MoO₄)₂ nanoparticles having an almost spherical shape and hydrophilic character. The procedure is also suitable for the preparation of NaY(MoO₄)₂-based nanophosphors by doping this host with lanthanide cations (Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺ and Dy³⁺), which, under UV illumination, exhibit intense luminescence whose color is determined by the selected doping cation (red for Eu³⁺, green for Tb³⁺ and yellow for Dy³⁺). The effects of the cations doping level on the luminescent properties are analyzed in terms of emission intensities and luminescent lifetime, to find the optimum phosphors. Finally, the performance of these nanophosphors and that of the undoped system for the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B, used as a model compound, is also analyzed.

Superior light absorbing CdS/vanadium sulphide nanowalls@TiO2 nanorod ternary heterojunction photoanodes for solar water splitting

Vanadium sulphide is an emerging infrared active photocatalyst that has not been utilized to its maximum potential.