Electrospinning fabrication and luminescent properties of SrMoO4:Sm3+ nanofibers

Highlights: ► SrMoO4:Sm3+ fluorescent nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning. ► The properties of the SrMoO4:Sm3+ nanofibers were investigated. ► The obtained nanofibers exhibit a fine orange-red fluorescent property. ► The PL intensity of the nanofibers is superior to the nanoparticles counterpart. ► The optimum doping concentration of Sm3+ in the host lattice is 2 at.%. - Abstract: Samarium ions doped strontium molybdate (SrMoO4:Sm3+) nanofibers (NFs) were fabricated by a simple electrospinning process. The obtained SrMoO4:Sm3+ NFs are composed of scheelite-type tetragonal SrMoO4 phase, and the NFs have an average diameter of ca. 90 nm. Under 275 nm ultraviolet (UV) excitation, the NFs show an orange-red fluorescent property symbolized by a characteristic emission (606 nm) resulting from the 4G5/2 → 6H7/2 energy level transition of Sm3+. And the photoluminescence (PL) emissi on intensity of the SrMoO4:Sm3+ NFs is superior to that of the nanoparticles (NPs) counterpart under the same doping concentrations. The effect of Sm3+ concentrations on the 4G5/2 → 6H7/2 emission intensity was also investigated. The result reveals that the concentration quenching will occur when the Sm3+ content exceeds 2 at.%. In other words, the SrMoO4:Sm3+ NFs have an optimal luminescent performance under such a doping concentration.