Pure rhombohedral Bi1-xEuxPO4 nano-/micro-structures: fast synthesis, shape evolution and luminescence properties

BiPO4 and Eu-doped BiPO4 crystals were synthesized via a simple precipitation route at room temperature, employing Bi(NO3)(3) and (NH4)(2)HPO4 as the reactants, Eu2O3 as the dopant and citric acid as a template. X-ray powder diffraction analyses showed that pure rhombohedral BiPO4 form was obtained, and was the preferential orientation growth of the crystal. Field emission scanning electron microscope observations showed that the concentration of Bi3+ obviously changed the products' morphologies from nanosphere, hollow sphere to hexagonal prism. The acidity of the solution and the contents of citric acid and Eu3+ ion tailored the size of the final crystals. Effects of concentration of Eu3+ ion on the luminescence emission intensity were also investigated. Copyright (C) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.