Photoluminescence of TiO2:Eu nanotubes prepared by a two-step approach

TiO2:Eu nanotubes were prepared firstly by a two-step approach. The thin nanotubular structure was observed by a transmission electron microscope. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy results confirmed the existence of Eu element. When TiO2:Eu nanotubes were excited at 254 nm, their emission spectrum exhibited two groups of emission lines associated with Eu3+ 4f–4f transitions from 5D1 and 5D0 levels to the 7Fj ground level. In addition, the quenching concentration of Eu3+ of TiO2:Eu nanotubes was also investigated.