Phase transition and enhanced photoluminescence behaviour of rare earth activated ZnMoO4@(GO/r/GO) nanocomposites

Abstract In the present work, phase transformation and PL emission spectra of bare ZnMoO4:Eu3+ and ZnMoO4:Eu3+@(GO/r-GO) hybrid nanocomposites upon annealing at different temperatures have been studied. The nanocomposites have been synthesized through a facile and simple solvothermal approach. It has been found that as-synthesized bare ZnMoO4 exhibits monoclinic structure at 80 °C and gets transformed to a triclinic phase with annealing at 400 °C and 600 °C. The structural properties of the ZnMoO4@(GO/r-GO) hybrid nanocomposites have been accessed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, the optical properties have been evaluated through diffuse reflectance spectra and photoluminescence emission spectra. The PL emission spectra of ZnMoO4:Eu@(GO/r-GO) hybrid nanocomposites exhibit characteristic emission peaks of Eu3+ ion shows a higher PL intensity in comparison to that of ZnMoO4:Eu@(GO) sample. The PL emission spectra of GO/r-GO composites confirm that the studied sample can be used in field emission display technology and also as a photo-catalyst.