ARTICLE IN PRESS
F. Wang et al. / Journal of Solid State Chemistry 178 (2005) 825–830
826
3
of Eu , Nd , and Er ions in NaLa(WO ) powders
was described.
+
3+
3+
HITACH F-4500 fluorescence spectrophotometer with
an external 980 nm LD as the excitation source, instead
of the xenon source in the spectrophotometer. All
measurements were performed at room temperature.
4
2
2
. Experimental
Lanthanum chloride (LaCl ꢀ 4H O) and sodium
3
2
3. Results and discussion
tungstate (Na WO ꢀ 2H O) were used as raw materials.
2
4
2
3
+
Europium chloride (EuCl ꢀ nH O), neodymium chloride
3
2
Fig. 1 shows XRD patterns of the 5 mol% Eu
-
(
NdCl ꢀ nH O), and erbium chloride (ErCl ꢀ nH O)
3
2
3
2
doped samples obtained as-precipitated (A) and after
hydrothermal treatment (B). Only a diffused broad trace
can be found in the Fig. 1A, indicating that only
amorphous NaLa(WO ) particles could be achieved at
room temperature. After the sample was hydrothermal
treated at 180 1C for 2 h in a Teflon-lined autoclave the
XRD pattern shown in Fig. 1B exhibited prominent
peaks well accordant with JCPDS standard card (79-
were prepared by dissolving corresponding rare-earth
oxide (Eu O , Nd O , Er O ) in dilute hydrochloric acid
2
3
2
3
2
3
and then drying in order to remove the unreacted
hydrochloric acid. Solution A was prepared by dissol-
4
2
3
+
ving LaCl ꢀ 4H O and RECl ꢀ nH O (RE ¼ Eu
,
3
2
3+
3
2
3
+
Nd , and Er ) in 90 mL deionized water with the
total metal cations being 3.6 mmol. The solution was
then adjusted to the desired pH 6.0 with NaOH and
stirred for 10 min at room temperature. Another
solution B was prepared by dissolving 2.1375 g of
Na WO ꢀ 2H O (6.48 mmol) in 90 mL deionized water
1118) of tetragonal NaLa(WO ) crystal with no second
4 2
phase. Obviously, the colloidal phase has completely
crystallized during the hydrothermal synthesis. Fig. 2
3
+
2
4
2
shows the SEM photograph of the 5 mol% Eu -doped
NaLa(WO ) powders, which exhibit nearly spherical
morphology. The particle diameter was found to be
with initial pH 10.0 and stirred for 10 min at room
temperature. Solution A was then added to solution B
with vigorous magnetic stirring. The formed suspension
was stirred continuously for 10 min and subsequently
heated at 180 1C for 2 h in a Teflon-lined autoclave of
4
2
about 1–2 mm.
The Eu
3
+
ion is a good probe for the chemical
environment of the rare-earth ion because probability of
5
7
2
50 ml capacity with stirring. The white precipitate was
the D - F transition (allowed by electric dipole) is
0 2
separated by centrifugation and washed with deionized
water and ethanol for several times. And then the
precipitate was dried at 60 1C for 12 h and collected for
characterization. For comparison, a sock of suspension
was stirred under ambient pressure at room temperature
for 2 h. The precipitate was washed and collected with
the same procedure described above, which was
referenced as as-precipitated sample.
The phase and crystallinity were analyzed by X-ray
diffraction (XRD) (Philips XD98) using CuKa radia-
tion. Scanning electronic micrograph (SEM) was taken
on a Philips XL 30. The excitation and emission spectra
in the visible region were recorded on a HITACH F-
very sensitive to relatively small changes in the
5
7
surroundings, but the D - F transition (allowed by
0
1
magnetic dipole) is insensitive to the environment [21].
Thus, the ratio of the two intensities is a good measure
3
+
for the symmetry of the Eu
5
site. In a site with
7
inversion symmetry, the D - F transition is dom-
0
1
inating, while in a site without inversion symmetry, the
5
7
D - F transition is strongest [22]. In addition, the
0
2
5
7
emitting level D0 and the ground state F0 are
nondegenerate, and the D - F emission can give
5
7
0
0
4
500 fluorescence spectrophotometer equipped with a
Xe-arc lamp as excitation source. The luminescence
decay curves were measured with a SP-750 monochro-
mator, a PMT, a BOXCAR and an NCL multi-channel
data collecting analysis system. The sample was excited
by the emission line at 355 nm from the third harmonic
of Xe-lamp pumped Q-switched Nd:YAG laser with
pulse width of 25 ns and beam diameter of 1.5 mm. The
pump repetition rate could be adjusted from single shot
to 20 Hz. The emission spectra in the near-infrared
region were recorded on a TRIAX550 monochromator
(
JOBIN YVON-SPEX) equipped with a PS/TC-1
detector (ELECTRO-OPTICAL SYSTEMS INC.).
Two LDs of 800 and 980 nm were used as excitation
3
+
3+
ions and Er ions, respectively. Up-
3
+
source for Nd
conversion luminescent spectra were taken on the
Fig. 1. XRD patterns of the 5 mol% Eu -doped NaLa(WO
powders (A) as precipitate, (B) after hydrothermal treatment.
4 2
)