Advances in Materials Physics and Chemistry
 Vol. 2  No. 4 (2012) , Article ID: 25964 , 3 pages DOI:10.4236/ampc.2012.24031

Synthesis and Fluorescence Properties of Europium-Lanthanum-Calcium Orthophosphates and Condensed Phosphates

Hiroaki Onoda, Takehiro Funamoto

Department of Informatics and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University, Kyoto, Japan

Email: onoda@kpu.ac.jp

Received July 31, 2012; revised September 1, 2012; accepted September 7, 2012

Keywords: Condensed Phosphate; Europium; Fluorescence; Resistance against Hydrofluoric Acid

ABSTRACT

Mixtures of lanthanum oxide, europium oxide, calcium carbonate, and phosphoric acid were heated with various ratios of P/(Eu + La + Ca) and La/Ca. Europium ratio was settled at Eu/(Eu + La + Ca) = 0.03. The obtained phosphates were estimated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectra, and scanning electron micrograph (SEM) images. The fluorescence spectra and resistance against hydrofluoric acid were estimated as functional properties of these phosphate materials. The mixture of lanthanum and calcium phosphates were formed from XRD patterns and IR spectra. Samples prepared in P/(Eu + La + Ca) = 2 and 3 had large particles in SEM images. The condensed phosphates showed a strong peak at 615 nm and high resistance against hydrofluoric acid.

1. Introduction

Phosphates are transformed to other forms of phosphates by hydrolysis and dehydration reactions at elevated temperatures [1,2]. Polyphosphate and ultraphosphate are included in a group of condensed phosphates. Polyphosphate has a chain structure in which the PO4 unit shares two oxygen atoms and ultraphosphate has a network structure. Formation of these condensed phosphates was affected by the ratio of phosphorus/cation, heating temperature, time, atmosphere, and so on [3-5]. Therefore, it was difficult to obtain a high yield of the condensed phosphates. Consequently, orthophosphate has been investigated for various uses, but condensed phosphates have been little studied. Orthophosphate materials have been used for ceramic materials, catalysts, fluorescent materials, dielectric substances, metal surface treatment, detergent, food additives, fuel cells, pigments, etc. [6,7]. The condensed phosphates have different properties from those of orthophosphates and can therefore be used as novel functional materials [8,9].

Rare-earth phosphates have a high melting point and large specific surface area in phosphate materials [10,11]. Rare-earth orthophosphates, which are the main component of rare-earth ores, are stable phosphate groups in acidic and basic solutions. Their resistance in acidic and basic solutions was developed into other phosphate materials [12]. Moreover, rare earth elements are important in fluorescence properties. Especially, the addition of europium indicated strong fluorescence in materials of various kinds [13].

Metals, oxides, and silicates are useful materials, but they are vulnerable to the effects of hydrofluoric acid, which is a reagent used in many industrial applications. However, its wastes are not easily disposed of [14]. Furthermore, throughout Africa, China, the Middle East, and southern Asia (India and Sri Lanka), groundwater contains a certain amount of hydrofluoric acid. Therefore, for materials used with such polluted water from plants and at the developing area, resistance against hydrofluoric acid is important [15]. Because phosphate materials have a certain degree of resistance against hydrofluoric acid, these materials can be used with hydrofluoric acid. Nevertheless, the extent of that resistance remains unclear.

In previous work [9], europium-substituted lanthanum phosphates were synthesized and estimated from the optical properties and the resistance against hydrofluoric acid. The substitution from rare earth cations to common metal cations is important, because rare earth cations are limited in the world. The motivation of this work is to repress the use of lanthanum cation. For this study, the europium-substituted lanthanum-calcium condensed phosphates were synthesized from lanthanum oxide, calcium carbonate, europium oxides, and phosphoric acid. The respective chemical compositions and particle shapes of the obtained products were evaluated. Furthermore, these phosphate materials were studied for their fluorescence properties and resistance in hydrofluoric acid.

2. Experimental

Europium oxide (Eu2O3) was mixed with lanthanum oxide (La2O3) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the ratio of Eu/(Eu + La + Ca) = 0.03 and La/Ca = 10/0, 8/2, 5/5, 2/8, and 0/10. These mixtures were added to phosphoric acid (H3PO4) at mole ratios of P/(La + Ca + Eu) = 1, 2, and 3, and then heated at 700˚C for 20 hr under air conditions.

The respective chemical compositions of these thermal products were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). X-ray diffraction patterns were recorded on a Rigaku Denki RINT2000 X-Ray diffractometer using monochromated CuKα radiation. The IR spectra were recorded (FT/IR-4200; JASCO Corp.) using a KBr disk method. The particle shapes of phosphate powder were observed from scanning electron micrographs (SEM, JGM-5510LV; JEOL).

The excitation and emission properties were measured using a luminescence spectrometer (LS55; Perkin-Elmer). The emission and excitation wavelengths were 620 and 254 nm, respectively. The resistance of materials against hydrofluoric acid was estimated using the following method. The 0.2 g of thermal products was allowed to stand in 100 ml of 5 wt% of hydrofluoric acid for 1 day. Then, a solid was removed by filtration. The residual ratio was calculated with the dried solid.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Chemical Compositions and Particle Shapes of Phosphates

Samples prepared in P/(La + Ca + Eu) = 1 and La/Ca = 10/0 indicated the peaks of lanthanum orthophosphate, LaPO4. By the substitution from lanthanum to calcium cation, the peaks of calcium phosphate, Ca3(PO4)2, appeared in XRD patterns. In P/(La + Ca + Eu) = 2, XRD patterns were changed from lanthanum orthophosphate, LaPO4, and polyphosphate, La(PO3)3 to calcium polyphosphate, Ca(PO3)2. Figure 1 shows XRD patterns of samples prepared in P/(La + Ca + Eu) = 3. The peaks of lanthanum polyphosphate, La(PO3)3, became small by the substitution with calcium cation in the preparation conditions. Sample prepared in La/Ca = 0/10 was near amorphous state because of the abundant phosphate. In the condition at P/Ca = 3/1, samples had no stable calcium phosphate from XRD patterns.

Figure 2 portrays IR spectra of samples prepared in P/(La + Ca + Eu) = 1. Sample prepared in La/Ca = 10/0

Figure 1. XRD patterns of samples prepared in P/(La + Ca + Eu) = 3 (Eu; 3 mol%), (a) La/Ca = 10/0; (b) La/Ca = 8/2; (c) La/Ca = 5/5; (d) La/Ca = 2/8; and (e) La/Ca = 0/10; ○: La(PO3)3.

indicated the adsorption due to orthophosphate, on the other hand, sample in La/Ca = 0/10 had the adsorption of condensed phosphates. The most important peak at 770 cm−1 was from P-O-P bonding in condensed phosphates [16]. Sample prepared in La/Ca = 0/10 was the mixture of calcium orthophosphate, Ca3(PO4)2, and calcium pyrophosphate, Ca2P2O7, from XRD patterns and IR spectra. The small absorption peak at 1630 cm−1 in the spectrum of all samples was attributable to the adsorbed water after thermal synthesis. Sample prepared in La/Ca = 0/10 had more obvious peak at 1630 cm−1, because condensed phosphate was easy to contain the adsorbed water. Samples prepared in P/(La + Ca + Eu) = 2 and 3 had smaller change than that in P/(La + Ca + Eu) = 1, because the formation of condensed phosphate had much influence on IR spectra. The difference of condensation degree among condensed phosphates had little change in IR spectra.

From SEM images, the P/(La + Ca + Eu) ratio had more influence on particle shape and size than the La/Ca ratio. Figure 3 depicts SEM images of samples prepared with various P/(La + Ca + Eu) and La/Ca = 5/5. Samples prepared in P/(La + Ca + Eu) = 1 had small particles. On the other hand, samples prepared in P/(La + Ca + Eu) = 2 and 3 had large particles. All samples had no specified shape in this work.

3.2. Functional Properties of Phosphate Materials

Figure 4 portrays the excitation and emission spectra of samples prepared in P/(La + Ca + Eu) = 2 (emission: 620 nm, excitation: 254 nm). Samples prepared in La/Ca = 10/0 had the strong peaks at 250 - 270 nm in excitation

Figure 2. IR spectra of samples prepared in P/(La + Ca + Eu) = 3 (Eu; 3 mol/l). (a) La/Ca = 10/0; (b) La/Ca = 8/2; (c) La/Ca = 5/5; (d) La/Ca = 2/8; (e) La/Ca = 0/10.

Figure 3. SEM images of samples prepared in La/Ca = 5/5. (a) P/(La + Ca + Eu) = 1; (b) P/(La + Ca + Eu) = 2; and (c) P/(La + Ca + Eu) = 3.

Figure 4. Excitation (620 nm) and emission (254 nm) spectra of samples prepared in P/(La + Ca + Eu) = 2 (Eu; 3 mol%). (a) La/Ca = 10/0; (b) La/Ca = 8/2; (c) La/Ca = 5/5; (d) La/Ca = 2/8; and (e) La/Ca = 0/10.

spectra. The emission peaks at 556, 590, 615, and 690 nm corresponded respectively to the transition from 5D0 to 7F0, 7F1, 7F2, and 7F4. Some peaks were divided in two because of the symmetry of phosphate structure. The strong peaks at 615 nm were observed at sample prepared in La/Ca = 10/0. The peak intensity was weak for samples prepared in La/Ca = 0/10 (Figure 4(e)). The existence of lanthanum cation in phosphate structure was important for the emission peaks. Samples prepared in P/(La + Ca + Eu) = 1 and 3 had little emission peaks by the small substitution with calcium cation (La/Ca = 8/2, not shown). The substitution with calcium cation produced amorphous phase in XRD patterns of samples at P/(La + Ca + Eu) = 1 and 3. In this work, amorphous materials had little fluorescence peaks. On the other hand, the crystalline calcium polyphosphate, Ca(PO3)2, formed in the condition of P/Ca = 2. Because of this crystalline calcium polyphosphate, the emission intensity became small gradually.

Table 1 presents the residual ratios of samples from 5 wt% of hydrofluoric acid. A high residual ratio reflects high resistance against hydrofluoric acid. All samples showed residual ratios higher than 60%. The condensed phosphates showed high resistance against hydrofluoric acid. The residual ratio became small by the substitution with calcium cation. In the same conditions, silicon dioxide was dissolved completely to hydrofluoric acid. The phosphate materials showed much higher resistance against hydrofluoric acid. 

4. Conclusion

Europium-substituted lanthanum-calcium phosphates were synthesized from lanthanum oxide, calcium carbonate, europium oxide, and phosphoric acid. Lanthanum and calcium phosphates were formed from XRD patterns and IR spectra. From SEM images, samples prepared in P/(La + Ca + Eu) = 2 and 3 had large particles. By the substitution with calcium, the fluorescence peak of samples prepared in P/(La + Ca + Eu) = 2 became weak

Table 1. Residual ratio of samples from hydrofluoric acid %.

gradually. The formation of calcium phosphate had influence on the emission spectra of phosphates. These phosphate materials had a high residual ratio from hydrofluoric acid.

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