Eu(iii)-doped calcium molybdate nano- and microstructures: microfluidic synthesis and morphology tuning via solvent dielectric constant and viscosity control†

Abstract

A novel and green microfluidic approach was employed for the synthesis of undoped and Eu(III)-doped calcium molybdate at room and low temperatures. The controlled formation of nano- and microstructures was successfully achieved by tuning the nucleation and growth stages of particle formation through a systematic variation of the viscosity and dielectric constant of the reaction medium, i.e. water and ethanol in different weight ratios and at different temperatures. Thanks to the inherent advantages of the microfluidic approach in terms of mass transport, mixing and heat exchange, it was possible to carry out the reaction at low temperature (−4 °C) in an effective manner and to further control the reaction conditions to achieve the formation of small and monodisperse nanoparticles. The synthesised nano- and microstructures, displaying different morphologies depending on reaction conditions, were investigated from a structural (XRD), dimensional and morphological (TEM, SEM), compositional (ICP-MS), and functional (photoluminescence) point of view. The remarkable photoluminescence properties of pure and Eu(III)-doped calcium molybdate structures proved that they are promising materials to be employed as phosphors.