Fabrication, characterization, and luminescence properties of highly uniform PbWO 4 :Ln 3+ (Ln = Tb, Eu, Dy, and Sm) hierarchical microspheres

Abstract Monodisperse PbWO4 hierarchical microspheres have been fabricated through a hydrothermal method by using trisodium citrate and SDBS as surfactants. The as-obtained PbWO4 spheres are well-dispersed with narrow size distribution and are assembled by many closely packed nanoparticles. During the synthesis process, the trisodium citrate and SDBS additives play a crucial role in controlling the particle size and morphology of the product. The as-obtained PbWO4:Ln3+ (Ln = Tb, Eu, Dy, and Sm) hierarchical microspheres exhibit intense light emissions with different colors coming from different Ln3+ ions under ultraviolet excitation, which might find potential applications in fields of optical displays, optoelectronic devices, and light emitting diodes.