Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-assisted solvothermal synthesis of flower-like SrCO3:Tb3+ phosphors

Graphical abstract: A simple solvothermal method for the synthesis of flower-like SrCO3:Tb3+ phosphors with the assistance of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP, K30). Highlights: ► Well-crystallized flower-like SrCO3:Tb3+ phosphors could be easily prepared by a simple solvothermal method with the assistance of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). ► The amount of PVP and the reaction time have a strong effect on controlling the morphology and optical properties of SrCO3:Tb3+ particles. ► The main synthesizing process and the growth mechanism for the formation of final samples were proposed. -- Abstract: Well-crystallized flower-like SrCO3:Tb3+ phosphors have been synthesized by an inexpensive and friendly solvothermal process using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP, K30) as an additive without further annealing treatment. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) as well as photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) were used to characterize the resulting samples. The amount of PVP and the reaction time have strong effect on the morphology of the SrCO3:Tb3+ particles. The results of XRD confirm the formation of a well-crystallized SrCO3 phase with an orthorhombic structure. The possible formation mechanism for flower-like SrCO3:Tb3+ phosphor is proposed. The SrCO3:Tb3+ phosphors show the characteristic 5D4–7FJ (J = 6, 5, 4, 3) emission lines with green emission 5D4–7F5 (544 nm) as the most prominent group under ultraviolet excitation.