Synthesis and Characterization of Europium‐exchanged Titanate Nanoporous Phosphors

Eu x (NH 4 ) 2‐2x Ti 3 O 7 nanoporous phosphor was prepared by ion exchange method. (NH 4 ) 2 Ti 3 O 7 nanotubes were employed as the host structure by treating H 2 Ti 3 O 7 with NH 4 OH solution and the activator, Eu 2+ , was introduced into the host via ion exchange. This is an easy and feasible way to prepare a phosphor. The synthesized samples were characterized using TEM, XRD, N 2 adsorption‐desorption isotherm, TPR, and fluorescence spectrophotometer. Experimental results showed that a portion of Eu 2+ ions was oxidized into Eu 3+ ions during ion exchange, resulting in the present phosphor with blue‐emitting and red‐emitting. Moreover, the tubular structure of Eu x (NH 4 ) 2‐2x Ti 3 O 7 was distorted as Eu 2+ was placed into the host structure. This distortion is attributed to the electrostatic interaction between Eu 2+ and the electric field of the host structure.