Polarized Luminescence Properties of TiO2:Sm3+ Microfibers and Microbelts Prepared by Electrospinning

One-dimensional TiO2:xSm(3+) microfibers and microbelts were prepared by electrospinning. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), photoluminescence (PL), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and polarized luminescence measurements were performed to characterize these TiO2:xSm(3+) microfibers and microbelts. SEM and HRTEM results indicate that TiO2:xSm(3+) microfibers calcined at different temperature are belt-like. The average width and thickness of TiO2:xSm(3+) microbelts calcined at 700 degrees C is about 1.0 and 0.4 mu m, respectively. Under ultraviolet excitation (lambda(ex) = 330 nm) and commercial 365 nm UV lamp excitation, these TiO2:xSm(3+) microbelts show intense (4)G(5/2) --> (6) H-5/2,H-7/2,H-9/2 emissions of Sm3+ ions. Polarized luminescence measurement confirms that the luminescence of single TiO2:xSm(3+) microbelt is linear polarization.