Optical properties of LaF₃:Ce and LaF₃:Ce, Tb embedded polymer nanocomposites

Colloidal solutions containing LaF₃:Ce and LaF₃:Ce,Tb nanoparticles were synthesized and embedded in polyacrylamide through a simple procedure. Very fine colloidal nanoparticle suspension in dm-water was synthesized by adopting co-precipitation technique in acidic environment. Nanoparticles were characterized for their crystal structure, particle size, UV-ViS absorption and photoluminescence behavior using X-ray diffraction, DLS, and photoluminescence spectroscopy techniques respectively. Size of nano-crystals was estimated using the Scherer formula. The life time measurements of the colloidal solutions were done. The transparent polymer nano composites containing LaF₃:Ce and LaF₃:Ce, Tb exhibited emissions at 304 and 490, 543, 585, 622 nm respectively. The colloidal route for polymer nanocomposite synthesis seems to be an easy and effective way to fabricate optically transparent photo-luminescent composite materials in variety of sizes and shapes. (author)