Preparation and Photoluminescence Properties of Eu3+-Doped BaZrO3 Nanotube Arrays

The BaZrO3:Eu hybrid nanotube arrays with different Eu3+-doped contents are synthesized by hydrothermal method using ZrO2 nanotube layers as template. XRD, SEM, and TEM analysis reveal that the BaZrO3:Eu nanotubes have a cubic perovskite structure with uniform diameter (about 150 nm) and tubular wall. Photoluminescence property of the hybrid nanotube arrays are studied at room temperature. PL spectra, excited at 283 nm, consist of 4f -> 4f emission transitions from the D-5(0) excited level of the Eu3+ ions to the F-7(J) (J = 0 similar to 4) levels. The intense D-5(0)-F-7(0,2) transition suggests the local defects and distortion of EuO6 octahedra in the BaZrO3:Eu host lattice. In addition, the dependence of luminescence intensity on the Eu3+ concentration in the nanotube arrays is studied.