Investigation on photoluminescence properties of MWCNTs@Gd2O3: RE3+ (RE = Eu, Tb, and Tm) hybrid nanocomposites.

A facile synthesis of rare earth (RE3+) activated gadolinium oxide (Gd 2 O 3) decorated on the surface of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), i.e., MWCNTs@Gd 2 O 3 : RE3+ (RE = Eu, Tb, and Tm) have been carried out. The X-ray diffraction patterns and scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs of as-prepared nanocomposites confirm the homogeneous dispersion of the nanocomposites. The emission spectrum of MWCNTs@Gd 2 O 3 :Eu3+ nanocomposite exhibits the characteristic emission lines of Eu3+ at 590 nm and 610 nm with the radiation of 254 nm. MWCNTs@Gd 2 O 3 :Tb3+ nanocomposite displays an intense green emission at 547 nm, while MWCNTs@Gd 2 O 3 :Tm3+ nanocomposite shows a strong blue emission at 457 nm under ultra-violet (UV) excitation of 360 nm. The calculated values of emission lifetimes in the studied phosphors could attribute to more radiative relaxation. Henceforth, the results affirm that these spectral engineered luminescent materials may envision prospective applications in fluorescent imaging, bio-separation, fluorescent lamps, and display devices, etc. • The photoluminescent MWCNTs@Gd 2 O 3 :RE3+ (RE = Eu, Tb, and Tm) nanocomposite have been synthesized by precipitation approach. • As-synthesized MWCNTs@Gd 2 O 3 :RE3+ offer excellent luminescence properties in the blue, yellow, and red emissions range. • The MWCNTs@Gd 2 O 3 :RE3+ nanocomposite may be useful with the broad prospect in fluorescence imaging and display devices etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]