Submicrometre-sized EuPO4 hollow spheres: template-directed synthesis and luminescent properties

Submicrometre-sized EuPO 4 hollow spheres were synthesised by utilising the colloidal spheres of Eu(OH)CO 3 as the sacrificial template, for the first time. The EuPO 4 hollow spheres were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and photoluminescence, respectively. The EuPO 4 hollow spheres exhibit red colour emission from 5 D 0 – 7 F J ( J = 1, 2, 3, 4) transitions of the Eu 3+ ions. The obtained EuPO 4 hollow spheres may have potential applications in cell biology, drug release, diagnosis, due to the high chemistry stability and luminescence function.