Preparation and photoluminescence properties of Er3+-doped La2Zr2O7 nanocrystals

(La1-xErx)(2)Zr2O7 (x = 0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1) nanocrystals have been successfully prepared by the chemical co-precipitation and calcination method, and were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The nanocrystals calcined at 800 degrees C for 5 h exhibit good crystallinity and have a particle size of about 25 nm. The emission band centered at 528 nm is identified as the H-2(11/2) -> I-4(15/2) transition, the emission bands centered at 550 nm and 562 nm are attributed to the S-4(3/2) -> I-4(15/2) transition, and the emission bands centered at 663 nm and 682 nm are ascribed to the F-4(9/2) -> I-4(15/2) transition. The emission intensity increases with increasing Er3+ content, up to a critical concentration between x = 0.025 and x = 0.05, and then decreases with further increasing Er3+ concentration. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.