synthesis of er3+-doped hydrocalumite and its strong infrared emissions

A series of er3+-doped hydrocalumite with strong infrared emissions have been synthesized by colloid precipitate method using cacl2, alcl3·6h2o, and ercl3 solid as reagents in ethanol/water medium. compositional and structural analyses reveal that the er3+-doped hydrocalumite can be kept the layered structure as the ca2+/(al3++er3+) molar ratio is of 1.10 – 2.31. all the er3+-doped hydrocalumite are monoclinic symmetry despite their cell parameters are different. sem images suggest that the er3+ doping does not damage the morphology of the hydrocalumite. photoluminescent spectra show strong emissions at 720, 780, and 850 nm for all the er3+-doped hydrocalumite, and the origins of these emissions have been discussed. the er3+-doped hydrocalumite with strong red and infrared emissions be potential application in biological detector or therapy in consideration of the biocompatibility of ca2+ions.