Colloidal down-shifting Gd2O3:Eu3+/SiO2 phosphors nanocomposites using one-pot modified surfactants-based soft templates for catalytic applications

The application of rare earth (RE)-based phosphor materials faces a significant challenge in adopting strategies to bring down the cost without compromising their properties. The most straightforward approach is to minimize the use of RE elements . Herein, we demonstrate the use of SiO 2 as an economical solid nano-matrix for lanthanides-based phosphor nanomaterials . Gd 2 O 3 :Eu 3+ ( x %) and Gd 2 O 3 :Eu 3+ ( x %)/SiO 2 nanophosphor composites were prepared through a modified soft templating technique using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as the surfactant . The photoluminescence properties were studied by excitation, emission, and luminescence decay investigations. Upon excitation in the O 2− (2p)→Eu 3+ (4f 6 ) LMCT state, these nanophosphors exhibited predominantly red emission from the 5 D 0 → 7 F J transition (where J = 0–4) of the Eu 3+ ion. Moreover, the synthesized low-cost Gd 2 O 3 Eu 3+ (5 %)/SiO 2 composites, with a small number of lanthanides , exhibited excellent photocatalytic degradation activity for organic dye (methylene blue) under visible light (λ ≥ 420 nm), showing promising potential for photocatalytic wastewater treatment .