White-light-emitting long-lasting phosphorescence in Dy-doped SrSiO3

We report on a luminescent phenomenon in Dy³⁺-doped SrSiO₃ long-lasting phosphor. After irradiation by a 254-nm UV lamp for 5 min, the Dy³⁺-doped SrSiO₃ phosphor emits white light-emitting long-lasting phosphorescence for more than 1 h even after the irradiation source has been removed. Photoluminescence, long-lasting phosphorescence and thermoluminescence (TL) spectra are used to explain this phenomenon. Photoluminescence spectra reveal that the white light-emitting long-lasting phosphorescence originated from the two mixtures of Dy³⁺ characteristic luminescence, the 480-nm blue emission (⁴F_9/2→⁶H_15/2) and the 572-nm yellow emission (⁴F_9/2→⁶H_13/2). TL spectra shows that the introduction of Dy³⁺ ions into the SrSiO₃ host produces a highly dense trapping level at 377 K (0.59 eV), which is responsible for the long-lasting phosphorescence at room temperature. A possible mechanism of the long-lasting phosphorescence based on the experimental results is proposed. It is considered that the long-lasting phosphorescence is due to persistent energy transfer from the electron traps to the Dy³⁺ ions, which creates the persistent luminescence of Dy³⁺ to produce the white light-emitting long-lasting phosphorescence.     

Photoluminescence of new red phosphor SrZnO2:Eu

SrZnO₂:Eu³⁺ has been synthesized by solid-state reaction and its photoluminescence in ultraviolet (UV)-vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) range was investigated. The broad bands around 254 nm are assigned to CT band of Eu³⁺-O²⁻. With the increasing of Eu³⁺ concentration, Eu³⁺ could occupy different sites, which leads to the broadening of CT band. A sharp band is observed in the region of 110-130 nm, which is related to the host absorption. The phosphors emit red luminescence centered at about 616 nm due to Eu³⁺⁵D₀→⁷F₂ both under 254 and 147 nm, but none of Eu²⁺ blue emission can be observed.     

Luminescence enhancement of Eu, Ce co-doped Ba3Si5O13−δNδ phosphors

Host lattice Ba₃Si₅O_13−δN_δ oxonitridosilicates have been synthesized by the traditional solid state reaction method. The lattice structure is based on layers of vertex-linked SiO₄ tetrahedrons and Ba²⁺ ions, where each Ba²⁺ ion is coordinated by eight oxygen atoms forming distorted square antiprisms. Under an excitation wavelength of 365 nm, Ba₃Si₅O_13−δN_δ:Eu²⁺ and Ba₃Si₅O_13−δN_δ:Eu²⁺,Ce³⁺ show broad emission bands from about 400-620 nm, with maxima at about 480 nm and half-peak width of around 130 nm. The emission intensity is strongly enhanced by co-doping Ce³⁺ ions into the Ba₃Si₅O_13−δN_δ:Eu²⁺ phosphor, which could be explained by energy transfer. The excitation band from the near UV to the blue light region confirms the possibility that Ba₃Si₅O_13−δN_δ:Eu²⁺, Ce³⁺ could be used as a phosphor for white LEDs.     

A novel red emitting phosphor Ca2SnO4: Eu

A novel red emitting phosphor, Eu³⁺-doped Ca₂SnO₄, was prepared by the solid-state reaction. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the formation of Ca₂SnO₄: Eu³⁺. Field-emission scanning electron-microscopy (FE-SEM) observation indicated a narrow size-distribution of about 500 nm for the particles with spherical shape. Photoluminescence measurements indicated that the phosphor exhibits bright red emission at about 615 nm under UV excitation. The excellent luminescence properties make it possible as a good candidate for plasma display panels (PDP) application. Splitting of the ⁵D₀-⁷F_J transitions of Ca₂SnO₄: Eu³⁺ suggests that the Eu³⁺ ions occupied two nonequivalent sites in the crystallite. The luminescence lifetime measurement showed a bi-exponential decay, providing other evidence for the existence of two different environments for Eu³⁺ ions.     

Host-sensitized luminescence of Dy, Pr, Tb in polycrystalline CaIn2O4 for field emission displays

CaIn₂O₄:Dy³⁺/Pr³⁺/Tb³⁺ blue-white/green/green phosphors were prepared by the Pechini sol-gel process. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), diffuse reflectance, photoluminescence (PL) and cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra as well as lifetimes were utilized to characterize the samples. The XRD results reveal that the samples begin to crystallize at 800 °C and pure CaIn₂O₄ phase can be obtained after annealing at 900 °C. The FE-SEM images indicate that the CaIn₂O₄:Dy³⁺, CaIn₂O₄:Pr³⁺ and CaIn₂O₄:Tb³⁺ samples consist of spherical grains with size around 200-400 nm. Under the excitation of ultraviolet light and low-voltage electron beams (1-5 kV), the CaIn₂O₄:Dy³⁺, CaIn₂O₄:Pr³⁺ and CaIn₂O₄:Tb³⁺ phosphors show the characteristic emissions of Dy³⁺ (⁴F_9/2-⁶H_15/2 and ⁴F_9/2-⁶H_13/2 transitions, blue-white), Pr³⁺ (³P₀-³H₄, ¹D₂-³H₄ and ³P₁-³H₅ transitions, green) and Tb³⁺ (⁵D₄-⁷F_6,5,4,3 transitions, green), respectively. All the luminescence is resulted from an efficient energy transfer from the CaIn₂O₄ host lattice to the doped Dy³⁺, Pr³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions, and the corresponding luminescence mechanisms have been proposed.     

A new promising phosphor, Na3La2(BO3)3:Ln (Ln=Eu, Tb)

We present an efficient way to search a host for ultraviolet (UV) phosphor from UV nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. With the guidance, Na₃La₂(BO₃)₃ (NLBO), as a promising NLO material with a broad transparency range and high damage threshold, was adopted as a host material for the first time. The lanthanide ions (Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺)-doped NLBO phosphors have been synthesized by solid-state reaction. Luminescent properties of the Ln-doped (Ln=Tb³⁺, Eu³⁺) sodium lanthanum borate were investigated under UV ray excitation. The emission spectrum was employed to probe the local environments of Eu³⁺ ions in NLBO crystal. For red phosphor, NLBO:Eu, the measured dominating emission peak was at 613 nm, which is attributed to ⁵D₀-⁷F₂ transition of Eu³⁺. The luminescence indicates that the local symmetry of Eu³⁺ in NLBO crystal lattice has no inversion center. Optimum Eu³⁺ concentration of NLBO:Eu³⁺ under UV excitation with 395 nm wavelength is about 30 mol%. The green phosphor, NLBO:Tb, showed bright green emission at 543 with 252 nm excited light. The measured concentration quenching curve demonstrated that the maximum concentration of Tb³⁺ in NLBO was about 20%. The luminescence mechanism of Ln-doped NLBO (Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺) was analyzed. The relative high quenching concentration was also discussed.     

Synthesis of Gd3PO7:Eu nanospheres via a facile combustion method and optical properties

Eu³⁺-doped Gd₃PO₇ nanospheres with an average diameter of ∼300 nm and a narrow size distribution have been prepared by a facile combustion method and structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The luminescent properties were systemically studied by the measurement of excitation/emission spectra, and emission spectra under different temperatures, as well as by photostability. The strong red-emission intensity peaking at 614 nm originates the ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition and is observed under 254-nm irradiation, indicating that Eu³⁺ ions in Gd₃PO₇ mainly occupied non-centrosymmetry sites. The CIE1931 XY chromaticity coordinates of Gd₃PO₇:Eu³⁺ nanospheres are (x=0.654, y=0.345) in the red area, which is near the National Television Standard Committee standard chromaticity coordinates for red. Thus, Gd₃PO₇:Eu³⁺ nanospheres may be potential red-emitting phosphors for PDP and Xe-based mercury-free lamps.     

Sol-gel deposition and luminescent properties of LaMgAl11O19:Ce/Tb phosphor films

Rare earth ions (Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺)-doped LaMgAl₁₁O₁₉ phosphor films were deposited on quartz glass substrates by Pechini sol-gel and dip coating method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), atomic force microscopy (AFM), field emission scanning electronic microscopy (FESEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectra, and lifetimes were used to characterize the resulting films. The results of XRD indicated that the magnetoplumbite structure LaMgAl₁₁O₁₉ phase can be obtained at 1200 °C on quartz glass substrates. This was further verified by the results of FT-IR and TG-DTA. AFM study showed that uniform films have an average grain size of 150 nm and a root mean square (RMS) roughness of 4 nm. The thickness of the films characterized by FESEM is about 340 nm. LaMgAl₁₁O₁₉:Ce³⁺ film showed the parity and spin allowed 5d-4f band emission of Ce³⁺ with a maximum at 350 nm. Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺-codoped LaMgAl₁₁O₁₉ films showed the band emission of Ce³⁺ and characteristic emission of Tb³⁺, namely, ⁵D_3,4-⁷F_J (J=6, 5, 4, 3) due to an efficient energy transfer from Ce³⁺ to Tb³⁺ in the host.     

A novel blue-emitting phosphor LiSrPO4:Eu for white LEDs

A novel blue-emitting phosphor, LiSrPO₄:Eu²⁺, was prepared by the solid-state reaction and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the formation of LiSrPO₄:Eu²⁺. Photoluminescence (PL) results showed that the phosphor can be efficiently excited by UV-visible light from 250 to 440 nm, and exhibited bright blue emission. The effects of the doped-Eu²⁺ concentration in LiSrPO₄:Eu²⁺ on the PL were investigated in detail. The results showed that the relative PL intensity increases with Eu²⁺-concentration increasing until a maximum intensity is reached, and then it decreases due to concentration quenching and a red-shift appears, which are explained satisfactorily with the luminescent theory. Upon excited with 396 nm light, the present synthesized phosphor has higher emission intensity than that from the commercial blue phosphor, BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:Eu²⁺. Bright blue light-emitting diodes were fabricated by the combination of the synthesized LiSrPO₄:Eu²⁺ with ∼397 nm emitting InGaN-based chips.     

Structure and phase composition of nanocrystalline Ce1−xLuxO2−y

The microstructure and phase stability of nanocrystalline mixed oxide Lu_xCe_1−xO_2−y (x=0-1) are described. Nano-sized (3-4 nm) oxide particles were prepared by the reverse microemulsion method. Morphological and structural changes upon heat treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman and Yb³⁺ emission spectroscopy, the latter ion being present as an impurity in the Lu₂O₃ starting material. Up to 950 °C, the samples were single phase, with structure changing smoothly with Lu content from fluorite type (F) to bixbyite type (C). For the samples heated at 1100 °C phase separation into coexisting F- and C-type structures was observed for 0.35<x<0.7. It was also found that addition of Lu strongly hinders the crystallite growth of ceria during heat treatment at 800 and 950 °C.     

Preparation and photoluminescence property of a loose powder, Ca3Al2O6:Eu by calcination of a layered double hydroxide precursor

A novel red light-emitting material, Ca₃Al₂O₆:Eu³⁺, which is the first example found in the Ca₃Al₂O₆ host, was prepared by calcination of a layered double hydroxide precursor at 1350 °C. The precursor, [Ca_2.9−xAl₂Eu_x(OH)_9.8](NO₃)_2+x·2.5H₂O, was prepared by coprecipitation of metal nitrates with sodium hydroxide. The material is a loose powder composed of irregular particles formed from aggregation of particles of a few nanometers, as shown in scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. It was found that the photoluminescence intensity reached the maximum when the calcination temperature was 1350 °C and the concentration of Eu³⁺ was 1.0%. The material emits bright red emission at 614 nm under a radiation of λ=250 nm.     

Fabrication and optical properties of core-shell structured spherical SiO2@GdVO4:Eu phosphors via sol-gel process

Europium-doped nanocrystalline GdVO₄ phosphor layers were coated on the surface of preformed submicron silica spheres by sol-gel method. The resulted SiO₂@Gd_0.95Eu_0.05VO₄ core-shell particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectra (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectra, low voltage cathodoluminescence (CL), time resolved PL spectra and kinetic decays. The XRD results demonstrate that the Gd_0.95Eu_0.05VO₄ layers begin to crystallize on the SiO₂ spheres after annealing at 600 ^°C and the crystallinity increases with raising the annealing temperature. The obtained core-shell phosphors have spherical shape, narrow size distribution (average size ca. 600 nm), non-agglomeration. The thickness of the Gd_0.95Eu_0.05VO₄ shells on the SiO₂ cores could be easily tailored by varying the number of deposition cycles (50 nm for four deposition cycles). PL and CL show that the emissions are dominated by ⁵D₀-⁷F₂ transition of Eu³⁺ (618 nm, red). The PL and CL intensities of Eu³⁺ increase with increasing the annealing temperature and the number of coating cycles. The optimum concentration for Eu³⁺ was determined to be 5 mol% of Gd³⁺ in GdVO₄ host.     

Enhanced ultraviolet up-conversion emissions of Tm/Yb codoped YF3 nanocrystals

Tm³⁺/Yb³⁺ codoped rod-like YF₃ nanocrystals were synthesized through a facile hydrothermal method. After annealing in an argon atmosphere, the nanocrystals emitted bright blue and intense ultraviolet (UV) light under a 980-nm continuous wave diode laser excitation. Up-conversion emissions centered at ∼291 nm (¹I₆ → ³H₆), ∼347 nm (¹I₆ → ³F₄), ∼362 nm (¹D₂ → ³H₆), ∼452 nm (¹D₂ → ³F₄), ∼476 nm (¹G₄ → ³H₆), ∼642 nm (¹G₄ → ³F₄), and ∼805 nm (³H₄ → ³H₆) were recorded using a fluorescence spectrophotometer. Especially, enhanced UV emissions were studied by changing Yb³⁺/Tm³⁺ doping concentrations, the annealing temperatures, and the excitation power densities. A possible mechanism, energy transfer-cross relaxation-energy transfer (ET-CR-ET), was proposed based on a simple rate-equation model to elucidate the process of the enhanced UV emissions.     

Preparation and optical properties of SrF2:Eu nanospheres

SrF₂:Eu³⁺ nanospheres with homogeneous diameter have been synthesized by a microemulsion-mediated hydrothermal method for the first time, in which quaternary microemulsion of CTAB/water/cyclohexane/n-pentanol was used. The possible reaction mechanism and the luminescent properties of SrF₂:Eu³⁺ nanospheres were also investigated in this paper. The morphology and grain sizes of final products were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, indicating that most of the products were nanospheres with an average diameter of ∼50 nm. Room-temperature emission spectra, recorded under 394-nm excitation, showed that the transition of ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₁ emission be dominating in SrF₂:Eu³⁺ nanospheres. From the dependence of the luminescence intensity on the concentration of Eu³⁺ ions, the optimal dopant concentration is 2 mol%.     

The dependence of persistent phosphorescence on annealing temperatures in CaTiO3:Pr nanoparticles prepared by a coprecipitation technique

Red emitting phosphors of CaTiO₃:Pr³⁺ nanoparticles with size ranging from 6 to 95 nm have been prepared by a coprecipitation technique and structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The fluorescence and phosphorescence of CaTiO₃:Pr³⁺ nanoparticles as a function of annealing temperature are investigated. It is found that fluorescence intensities monotonously increase with increasing temperature. However, a maximum in phosphorescence with the increase of annealing temperature occurs for the sample prepared at 700 °C. Based on the measurement of fluorescence emission, fluorescence excitation and reflectance spectra as well as time decay patterns of fluorescence and phosphorescence, it is demonstrated that the dependence of fluorescence and phosphorescence on annealing temperature originates from the decrease of surface defects with the increase of temperature.     

Rietveld refinement and photoluminescent properties of a new blue-emitting material: Eu activated SrZnP2O7

A new efficient blue phosphor, Eu²⁺ activated SrZnP₂O₇, has been synthesized at 1000 °C under reduced atmosphere and the crystal structure and photoluminescence properties have been investigated. The crystal structure of SrZnP₂O₇ was obtained via Rietveld refinement of powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern. It was found that SrZnP₂O₇ crystallizes in space group of P2₁/n (no. 14), Z=4, and the unit cell dimensions are: a=5.30906(2) Å, b=8.21392(3) Å, c=12.73595(5) Å, β=90.1573(3)°, and V=555.390(3) Å³. Under ultraviolet excitation (200-400 nm), efficient Eu²⁺ emission peaked at 420 nm was observed, of which the luminescent efficiency at the optimal concentration of Eu²⁺ (4 mol%) was estimated to be 96% as that of BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:Eu²⁺. Hence, the SrZnP₂O₇:Eu²⁺ exhibit great potential as a phosphor in different applications, such as ultraviolet light emitting diode and photo-therapy lamps.     

Eu,Dy co-doped SrAl<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> phosphors prepared by sol–gel-combustion processing

SrAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺ powders were synthesized by sol–gel–combustion process using metal nitrates as the source of metal ions and citric acid as a chelating agent of metal ions. The amounts of citric acid in mole were two times those of the metal ions. By tracing the formation process of the sol–gel, it is found that decreasing the amount of NO₃ ⁻ in the solution is necessary for the formation of transparent sol and gel, and the dropping of ethanol into the precursor solution can decrease the amount of NO₃ ⁻ in the solution. By combusting citrate sol at 600 °C, followed by heating the resultant combustion ash at 1,100–1,300 °C in a weak reductive atmosphere containing active carbon, SrAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺ phosphors can prepared. X-ray diffraction, Thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence spectrophotometer were used to investigate the formation process and luminescent properties of the as-synthesized SrAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺. The results reveal that the SrAl₂O₄ crystallizes completely when the combustion ash was sintered at 1,200–1,300 °C. The excitation and emission spectra indicate that excitation broadband mainly lies in a visible range and the phosphors emit strong light at 510 nm under the excitation of 348 nm. The afterglow of phosphors lasts for over 10 h when the excited source is cut off.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and luminescent properties of Sb-doped Sr3(PO4)2

Sb³⁺-doped Sr₃(PO₄)₂ crystals has been synthesized using phosphoric acid, strontium hydroxide and antimony powder as the raw materials through a hydrothermal reaction method. The crystallinity and the microstructure were investigated using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The photoluminescent property was investigated using luminescent spectrometer. Phase pure Sr₃(PO₄)₂ crystal was obtained and it has a shape of hexagonal rod. It showed the emission and excitation peaks at 396, 250, and 215 nm, respectively, indicating that the emission is attributed to ³P₁-¹S₀ transition and the excitation is attributed to ¹S₀-³P₁ and ¹S₀-¹P₁ transition. It was also observed that the intensity of photoluminescence is thermally stable up to 673 K.     

Photoluminescence properties of a novel phosphor, Na3La9O3(BO3)8:RE(RE=Eu,Tb)

The new oxyborate phosphors, Na₃La₉O₃(BO₃)₈:Eu³⁺ (NLBO:Eu) and Na₃La₉O₃(BO₃)₈:Tb³⁺ (NLBO:Tb) were prepared by solid-state reactions. The photoluminescence characteristics under UV excitation were investigated. The dominated emission of Eu³⁺ corresponding to the electric dipole transition ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ is located at 613 nm and bright green luminescence of NLBO:Tb attributed to the transition ⁵D₄→⁷F₅ is centered at 544 nm. The concentration dependence of the emission intensity showed that the optimum doping concentration of Eu and Tb is 30% and 10%, respectively.     

Role of crystallite size on the photoluminescence properties of SrIn2O4:Eu phosphor synthesized by different methods

Photoluminescence (PL) of Eu³⁺ was studied in SrIn₂O₄ host lattice. A complete solid solubility of Eu³⁺ has been found in the series SrIn_2−xEu_xO₄ [x=0-2.0]. The phase formation at a relatively low temperature and in a very short duration was achieved by combustion synthesis (CS). Concentration quenching of luminescence has been observed in SrIn_2−xEu_xO₄ [x=0.1-2.0] and the critical concentration for maximum emission was found to be with x=0.3. In order to find the role of crystallite size on the PL properties of SrIn₂O₄:Eu³⁺, the results obtained with phosphors synthesized by solid state reaction (SSR) and CS methods were compared.