Electrospinning synthesis and photoluminescence properties of SnO₂:xEu³⁺ nanofibers

Abstract

SnO₂:xEu³⁺(x=0, 1%, 3%, 5%, molar fraction) fibers were synthesized by electrospinning technology. The size of the as-prepared fibers is relatively uniform and the average diameter is about 200 nm with a large draw ratio. The as-prepared Eu³⁺ doped SnO₂ nanofibers have a rutile structure and consist of crystallite grains with an average size of about 10 nm. A slight red shift of the A _1g and B _2g vibration modes and an additional peak at 288 nm were observed in the Raman spectra of the nanofibers. The energies of bandgaps of the SnO₂ nanofiber with Eu doping of 1% and 3% are 2.64 eV, and the energy of bandgap is 2.94 eV with Eu doping of 5%(molar fraction). There is only orange emission(⁵ D ₀→⁷ F ₁ magnetic dipole transition) for Eu doped SnO₂ nanofibers, and no red emission could be observed. The orange emission upon indirect excitation splits into three peaks and the peak intensity at the excitation wavelength of 275 nm is higher than that at the excitation wavelength of 488 nm.