Electrospinning synthesis and luminescent properties of one-dimensional Ca2Gd8(SiO4)6O2:Eu3+ microfibers and microbelts

One-dimensional Ca2Gd8(SiO4)6O2:Eu3+ microfibers and microbelts were fabricated by a simple and cost-effective electrospinning method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), photoluminescence (PL), cathodoluminescence (CL) and decay kinetics were used to characterize the resulting samples. The diameters of the Ca2Gd8(SiO4)6O2:Eu3+ microfibers annealed at 1000 °C were in the range of 130–210 nm. The width and the thickness of Ca2Gd8(SiO4)6O2:Eu3+ microbelts annealed at 1000 °C were in the range of 290–500 nm and 110–160 nm, respectively. When the samples were excited by ultraviolet (275 nm), intense red emission from Eu3+ ions was observed. The charge transfer band of microbelts was broader than microfibers and the peak of charge transfer band moved to lower energy area. Under low-voltage electron beams (3–5 kV) excitation, the Ca2Gd8(SiO4)6O2:Eu3+ microfibers also showed strong red emission.