Enhanced functionality of Scots pine sapwood by in situ hydrothermal synthesis of GdPO4?H2O:Eu3+Composites in woods matrix

Luminescent lanthanide-doped phosphates have never been introduced as potential materials for wood functionalization. Wood-ceramic composites (WCC) may enable the extensive use of wood in construction due to different functionalization. Hence, this work proposes the inorganic GdPO4 center dot H2O:Eu3+ compound as an alternative and innovative method to increase wood chemical resistance and confer new optical properties. Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) sapwood - ceramic composite was obtained through in situ hydrothermal synthesis and compared with the untreated sapwood specimens. The enhanced characteristics of the WCC samples were demonstrated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray computed micro-tomography (mu CT), and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. Optical properties were determined by luminescence analysis.