Excellent green emission of Tb3+ incorporated in MgAl–NO3 layered double hydroxides system

A series of Tb-doped MgAl–NO3 layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with Mg2+/(Al3++Tb3+) molar ratios ranging from 1.0 to 4.0 were synthesized through co-precipitation method at room temperature. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results indicated that the crystallinity of all the Tb-doped samples presented a single phase corresponding to LDHs. SEM measurement suggested that all the samples have similar morphologies. Fluorescence spectra show strong green emissions at 490 and 544 nm, ascribed to the 5D4→7F6 and 5D4→7F5 transition of Tb3+, respectively. This result revealed that the MgAl–NO3 LDH system was favorable for the green emissions of Tb3+ ions.