Warm white light emitting ThO2:Sm3+ nanorods: Cationic surfactant assisted reverse micellar synthesis and Photoluminescence properties

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • ThO{sub 2}:Sm{sup 3+} nanoparticles have been synthesized using cationic surfactant assisted reverse micellar route. • HRTEM shows the formation of thoria nanorods. • Photoluminescence investigation shows host as well as samarium ion emission. • Time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy shows the presence of two types of samarium ion in thoria host. - Abstract: Sm{sup 3+} activated thorium oxide nanorods were synthesized by cationic surfactant assisted reverse micellar route. Phase purity, morphological and luminescent properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Upon UV light excitation (245 nm), ThO{sub 2}:Sm{sup 3+} exhibited host emission at 447 nm, along with characteristic emission lines of Sm{sup 3+} at 569, 609, 662 and 716 nm. Lifetime spectroscopy shows the presence of two types of Sm{sup 3+} (τ = 1.1 ms and 4.9 ms) with different asymmetric ratios.