CaGdAl3O7:Eu3+unidimensional nanostructures: Facile electrospinning synthesis, structure and luminescence

Inorganic luminescent materials with special unidimensional morphologies have become one kind of highly promising materials in luminescence field. Here, CaGdAl3O7:Eu3+ unidimensional nanostructures containing nanofibers, nanobelts and hollow nanofibers are fabricated perfectly via facile mono-axial electrospinning technology combined with subsequent oxidation procedure. The formation mechanisms of CaGdAl3O7:Eu3+ unidimensional nanostructures have been put forward and a new technology of constructing the unidimensional nanostructures is given. The morphologies of nanofiber, nanobelt and hollow nanofiber can be easily modulated via regulating the components of spinning solution and spinning parameters. CaGdAl3O7:Eu3+ unidimensional nanostructures are tetragonal in structure with space group of P 421m and possess perfect unidimensional morphologies. The unidimensional nanostructures show the predominant emissions at 590 and 619 nm under 256-nm ultraviolet light excitation, which result from 5D0 -> 7F1 and 5D0 -> 7F2 transitions of Eu3+ ions, respec-tively. The luminescence properties of the nanostructures can be adjusted by altering Eu3+ content, calcination temperatures and morphologies of the nanostructure. In brief, this work is of great significance for follow-up investigations of melilite group aluminates luminescence nanomaterials with distinct unidimensional morphologies.

Automated summary

Inorganic luminescent materials with special unidimensional morphologies are fabricated using electrospinning technology combined with oxidation procedure. The CaGdAl3O7:Eu3+ nanostructures exhibit tetragonal structure and emit blue and red fluorescence under UV excitation, which can be adjusted by altering the composition and morphology. This work is of great significance for studying luminescent nanomaterials with distinct unidimensional morphologies.