A solution chemistry approach for one-dimensional needle-like SrAl2O4 nanostructures with Ln (Ce3+, Eu2+ and Tb3+) as activator/dopant

Well-dispersed and uniform one-dimensional needle-like SrAl2O4:Ce3+, Eu2+, Tb3+ nanostructures have been fabricated in high yield by a hydrothermal method. The possible growth mechanism of Ln doped SrAl2O4 nanostructures was proposed. Varying the dopants leads to different optical properties, which demonstrates that the obtained SrAl2O4 nanostructures are good host materials for different lanthanides. In particular, the green and blue emission which originated from the high energy transfer efficiency of doped SrAl2O4 nanostructures was observed, which shows that the as-prepared nanophosphors are promising candidates for applications such as optical amplifiers, especially as fluorescent labels for biomolecules