Structural and photoluminescence properties of doped and core-shell LaPO₄: Eu³⁺ nanocrystals

Abstract

Here, we have fabricated of LaPO₄:Eu³⁺ doped and LaPO₄/Eu₂O₃ core-shell nanocrystals using solution based methods. The morphologies, structure, formation mechanism, and photoluminescence properties of these nanocrystals are investigated in detail. The compressive and tensile lattice strains are obtained for hexagonal and monoclinic LaPO₄ nanocrystals, respectively. Photoluminescence properties are found to be sensitive to the crystal phase, morphology, and core-shell structures. Judd–Ofelt parameters (Ω₂) are calculated to understand the asymmetric nature of the dopant Eu³⁺ ion in LaPO4 nanocrystals host of various morphologies and crystal phases. It is seen that Ω₂ value for nanorod (4.4×10^-20 cm²) is higher than the nanoparticles (3.38×10^-20 cm²). The quantum yield values increases from 28.27% to 52.4% by changing the crystal phase from hexagonal to monoclinic. The quantum yield of nanorods (58.50%) is higher than nanoparticles (28.68%).