Issue 16, 2014

Novel spherical hierarchical structures of GdOOH and Eu:GdOOH: rapid microwave-assisted synthesis through self-assembly, thermal conversion to oxides, and optical studies

Abstract

We report a novel, rapid, and low-temperature method for the synthesis of undoped and Eu-doped GdOOH spherical hierarchical structures, without using any structure-directing agents, through the microwave irradiation route. The as-prepared product consists of nearly monodisperse microspheres measuring about 1.3 μm in diameter. Electron microscopy reveals that each microsphere is an assembly of two-dimensional nanoflakes (about 30 nm thin) which, in turn, result from the assembly of crystallites measuring about 9 nm in diameter. Thus, a three-level hierarchy can be seen in the formation of the GdOOH microspheres: from nanoparticles to 2D nanoflakes to 3D spherical structures. When doped with Eu3+ ions, the GdOOH microspheres show a strong red emission, making them promising candidates as phosphors. Finally, thermal conversion at modest temperatures leads to the formation of corresponding oxide structures with enhanced luminescence, while retaining the spherical morphology of their oxyhydroxide precursor.

Graphical abstract: Novel spherical hierarchical structures of GdOOH and Eu:GdOOH: rapid microwave-assisted synthesis through self-assembly, thermal conversion to oxides, and optical studies

Supplementary files

Additions and corrections

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 Dec 2013
Accepted
05 Feb 2014
First published
05 Feb 2014

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014,2, 2965-2974

Novel spherical hierarchical structures of GdOOH and Eu:GdOOH: rapid microwave-assisted synthesis through self-assembly, thermal conversion to oxides, and optical studies

S. Majeed and S. A. Shivashankar, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2014, 2, 2965 DOI: 10.1039/C3TC32492C

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