ZnO nanoparticles co-doped with Fe3+ and Eu3+ ions for solar assisted photocatalysis.

In this study, ZnO nanoparticles co-doped with Fe3+ and Eu3+ were prepared by a facile co-precipitation method. The structure and morphology of the as-prepared nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and diffuse reflectance absorption spectra, respectively. The photocatalytic activities of the prepared catalysts were evaluated by photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange in aqueous solution with solar light irradiation. The co-doped Fe3+ and Eu3+ showed a synergistic effect, which significantly increased the photocatalytic activity of ZnO. The influences of calcination time, photocatalytic reaction temperature and catalyst loading on the photocatalytic activity of the catalyst were also investigated. It was found that there were an optimum photocatalytic reaction temperature and an optimum catalyst loading for high photocatalytic efficiency, and the photocatalytic efficiency decreased with increase in calcination time. The results of this study demonstrate that the as-prepared product of Eu3+/Fe3+/ZnO is a promising photocatalyst for solar assisted degradation of organic pollutions.

Synthesis of NaYF4, NaLuF4 and NaGdF4-based upconversion nanocrystals with hydro (solvo) thermal methods.

Serials of NaYF4, NaLuF4 and NaGdF4-based nanocrystals have been synthesized successfully by solvothermal and hydrothermal, respectively. The properties of the products were characterized and compared. The nanocrystals prepared by hydrothermal method exhibited uniform hexagonal phase and large size, while the nanocrystals prepared by solvothermal method displayed high upconversion luminescence (UCL) and small size. The UCL intensities of the nanocrystals prepared by solvothermal method were higher than that of nanocrystals from hydrothermal method. Whether using solvothermal or hydrothermal method, the UCL intensities of the nanocrystals were in the sequence (from strong to weak) of NaLuF4:Gd/Yb/Tm, NaLuF4:Yb/Tm, NaGdF4:Yb/Tm, NaYF4:Gd/Yb/Tm and NaYF4:Yb/Tm, respectively. This is the first time to systematically compare three kinds of host-based nanocrystals, which are prepared by two different approaches with various lanthanide ions doped. This work could provide new insight into fabrication of upconversion nanocrystals with intense UCL and controllable morphology and size via using suitable doping ions, host materials and efficient approaches.