Dumbbell ZrO2: Sm3+ (1–11 mol%) NPs were prepared by bio-template route.
NPs were characterized by PXRD, SEM, UV–Visible, TEM and PL techniques.
Radiative properties of photocatalysts predicted by Judd–Ofelt analysis.
Nanophosphor color tuned from yellow to pale green.
ZrO2: Sm3+ (11 mol%) exhibited excellent Sunlight photocatalytic performance.