Synthesis, characterization and luminescence properties of ZrBDC:Eu 3+ ,Tb 3+ nanoscaled metal organic frameworks

Zirconium nanoscaled metal–organic frameworks doped and co‐doped with Eu 3+ and/or Tb 3+ (ZrBDC:Eu 3+ ,Tb 3+ ) have been synthesized by hydrothermal method using 1,4‐dicarboxylic acid as linkers. The luminescence spectra obtained indicated that under 254 nm excitation, the as‐synthesized ZrBDC:Eu 3+ ,Tb 3+ and ZrO 2 :Eu 3+ ,Tb 3+ nanoparticles have multicolour visible emissions at 473, 591, 612 and 701 nm assigned to the 5 D 0  →  7 F 1 , 5 D 0  →  7 F 2 , 5 D 0  →  7 F 3 and 5 D 0  →  7 F 4 transition of Eu 3+ ions and at 488, 582 and 621 nm assigned to 5 D 4  →  7 F, 5 D 4  →  7 F 5 ; 5 D 4  →  7 F 4 and 5 D 4  →  7 F 3 transitions of Tb 3+ ions, respectively. The X‐ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy results suggest that the ZrBDC:Eu 3+ ,Tb 3+ nanoscaled metal–organic frameworks can be used as precursors to design the tetragonal phase of ZrO 2 :Eu 3+ ,Tb 3+ nanoparticles with high purity and a narrow size distribution via heat treatment process. The as‐prepared ZrO 2 :Eu 3+ ,Tb 3+ nanoparticles have size of about 10‐15 nm with BET multipoint surface area of 162 m 2 /g.