Enhanced photoluminescence of layered terbium hydroxides by graphene quantum dots in-situ synthesized in the interlayer

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) intercalated layered terbium hydroxides (LTbH) were prepared through in-situ hydrothermal carbonization of the intercalated citrate anions (CA) and showed an enhanced photoluminescence (PL) due to the sensitization of GQDs for LTbHs. Structural and compositional analysis indicated the GQDs were consisted of well-identified hexagonal lattice of graphene, together with some defects caused by oxygen-containing functional groups. The basal spacings decreased from 8.6 Å of NO3ˉ-LTbHs to 7.3 Å of GQD-LTbHs resulted by the strong interaction between the intercalated GQDs and LTbHs.