Facile synthesis and luminescence properties of uniform and well-dispersed YF3:Eu3+ architectures

Uniform YF3:Eu3+ phosphors with different sizes and morphologies have been prepared via a simple wet-chemical route at ambient pressure and low temperature, without any catalyst, template, or substrate. The morphologies of the YF3:Eu3+ samples can be changed by easily tuning the reaction temperature and fluoride source. The as-obtained YF3:Eu3+ samples exhibit orange-red emission corresponding to the D-5(0)-F-7(1) transition of the Eu3+ ions under UV excitation, which indicates that the Eu3+ locates in a site with inversion symmetry in the YF3 matrix. After a calcination treatment, the particle size, morphology, and dispersion of the YF3:Eu3+ samples are preserved, but the crystallinity noticeably enhances. This general, simple, and low-cost method may be of much significance in the synthesis of other lanthanide fluorides with various sizes and morphologies.