Preparation and luminescence properties of Ce and/or Tb doped LaPO4 nanofibers and microbelts by electrospinning

Ce³⁺ and/or Tb³⁺ doped LaPO₄ nanofibers and microbelts have been prepared by a combination method of sol-gel process and electrospinning. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), photoluminescence (PL), low voltage cathodoluminescence (CL) and time-resolved emission spectra as well as kinetic decays were used to characterize the resulting samples. SEM and TEM results indicate the as-formed precursor fibers and belts are smooth, and the as-prepared nanofibers and microbelts consist of nanoparticles. The doped rare-earth ions show their characteristic emission under ultraviolet excitation, i.e. Ce³⁺ 5d-4f and Tb³⁺⁵D₄-⁷F_J (J=6-3) transitions, respectively. The energy transfer process from Ce³⁺ to Tb³⁺ in LaPO₄:Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺ nanofibers was further studied by the time-resolved emission spectra. Under low-voltage electron beam excitation, LaPO₄:Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺ microbelt phosphors have a higher intensity than that of nanofiber phosphors.     

Synthesis, vacuum ultraviolet and near ultraviolet-excited luminescent properties of GdCaAl3O7: RE (RE=Eu, Tb)

Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) excitation and photoluminescent (PL) properties of Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ion-doped aluminate phosphors, GdCaAl₃O₇:Eu³⁺ and GdCaAl₃O₇:Tb³⁺ have been investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns indicate that the phosphor GdCaAl₃O₇ forms without impurity phase at 900 °C. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images show that the particle size of the phosphor is less than 3 μm. Upon excitation with VUV irradiation, the phosphors show a strong emission at around 619 nm corresponding to the forced electric dipole ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition of Eu³⁺, and at around 545 nm corresponding to the ⁵D₄→⁷F₅ transition of Tb³⁺. The results reveal that both GdCaAl₃O₇:RE³⁺ (RE=Eu, Tb) are potential candidates as red and green phosphors, respectively, for use in plasma display panel (PDP).     

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.     

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.     

Synthesis of highly fluorescent LaF3:Ln/LaF3 core/shell nanocrystals by a surfactant-free aqueous solution route

A surfactant-free aqueous solution route has been established for the synthesis of LaF₃:Ln³⁺/LaF₃ core/shell nanocrystals (Ln=Ce, Tb, Nd) heated at 75 °C at ambient pressure. All the as-prepared nanocrystals with spherical shape have an average size around 20 nm, and consist of well crystallized hexagonal phases. The X-ray photoelectron spectra was used to confirm that the LaF₃ shells have coated the LaF₃:Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺ cores. Compared with that of the original cores under the same conditions, the emission intensity of the LaF₃:Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺/LaF₃ and LaF₃:Nd³⁺/LaF₃ core/shell nanocrystals increased significantly of 120% and 60%, respectively. The quantum yield of the LaF₃:Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺/LaF₃ core/shell nanocrystals reached about 27% in aqueous solution. These results indicate that a significant reduction of the quenching from the surface of the core nanocrystals can be obtained by the synthesis of the core/shell structures, and this method can provide more desirable lanthanide-doped nanocrystals for potential biological applications.     

Crystal, electronic structures and photoluminescence properties of rare-earth doped LiSi2N3

The crystal and electronic structures, and luminescence properties of Eu²⁺, Ce³⁺ and Tb³⁺ activated LiSi₂N₃ are reported. LiSi₂N₃ is an insulator with an indirect band gap of about 5.0 eV (experimental value ∼6.4 eV) and the Li 2s, 2p states are positioned on the top of the valence band close to the Fermi level and the bottom of the conduction band. The solubility of Eu²⁺ is significantly higher than Ce³⁺ and Tb³⁺ in LiSi₂N₃ which may be strongly related to the valence difference between Li⁺ and rare-earth ions. LiSi₂N₃:Eu²⁺ shows yellow emission at about 580 nm due to the 4f⁶5d¹→4f⁷ transition of Eu²⁺. Double substitution is found to be the effective ways to improve the luminescence efficiency of LiSi₂N₃:Eu²⁺, especially for the partial replacement of (LiSi)⁵⁺ with (CaAl)⁵⁺, which gives red emission at 620 nm, showing highly promising applications in white LEDs. LiSi₂N₃:Ce³⁺ emits blue light at about 450 nm arising from the 5d¹→4f¹5d⁰ transition of Ce³⁺ upon excitation at 320 nm. LiSi₂N₃:Tb³⁺ gives strong green line emission with a maximum peak at about 542 nm attributed to the ⁵D₄→⁷F_J (J=3-6) transition of Tb³⁺, which is caused by highly efficient energy transfer from the LiSi₂N₃ host to the Tb³⁺ ions.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and luminescent properties of LuBO3:Tb microflowers

Hexagonal vaterite-type LuBO₃:Tb³⁺ microflower-like phosphors have been successfully prepared by an efficient surfactant- and template-free hydrothermal process directly without further sintering treatment. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), photoluminescence (PL) and cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra as well as kinetic decays were used to characterize the samples. The as-obtained phosphor samples present flowerlike agglomerates composed of nanoflakes with thickness of 40 nm and high crystallinity in spite of the moderate reaction temperature of 200 °C. The reaction mechanism has been considered as a dissolution/precipitation mechanism; the self-assembly evolution process has been proposed on homocentric layer-by-layer growth style. Under ultraviolet excitation into the 4f⁸→4f⁷5d transition of Tb³⁺ at 248 nm (or 288 nm) and low-voltage electron beam excitation, LuBO₃:Tb³⁺ samples show the characteristic green emission of Tb³⁺ corresponding to ⁵D₄→⁷F_{6, 5, 4, 3} transitions with the ⁵D₄→⁷F₅ transition (542 nm) being the most prominent group, which have potential applications in fluorescent lamps and field emission displays.     

Ca9Y(PO4)7:Ce3+,Tb3+纳米荧光粉的制备及发光性能

采用水热法制备出Ca₉Y（PO₄）₇：Ce³⁺,Tb³⁺纳米荧光粉,通过XRD、SEM和荧光光谱等对样品进行了分析,研究在Ca₉Y（PO₄）₇基质中引入Ce³⁺,Tb³⁺离子对发光性能的影响规律。研究发现因Tb³⁺离子自身能量交叉驰豫的存在,使得单掺Tb³⁺时,通过调节Tb³⁺离子的浓度可以实现对发光颜色的控制。同时研究了Ce³⁺-Tb³⁺之间的能量传递为电多极相互作用的偶极-四极机制,Ce³⁺-Tb³⁺之间最大的能量传递效率为55.6%。Ca₉Y（PO₄）₇：Ce³⁺,Tb³⁺的发光颜色可以通过激活离子之间的能量传递和共发射得到可控调节。SEM分析表明荧光粉颗粒尺寸在100 nm左右,分散性好。     

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.     

Luminescence of NaGdFPO4:Ln after VUV excitation: A comparison with GdPO4:Ln (Ln=Ce, Tb)

The phosphors NaGdFPO₄:Ln³⁺ and GdPO₄:Ln³⁺ (for Ln³⁺=Ce³⁺ and Tb³⁺) were prepared by solid-state reaction technique, the VUV-vis spectroscopic properties of the phosphors were investigated, and we vividly compare the luminescence of Ce³⁺ and Tb³⁺ in the hosts. For phosphors GdPO₄:Ln³⁺, the band near 155 nm in VUV excitation spectrum is assumed to be the host-related absorption, and for NaGdFPO₄:Ln³⁺ the absorption is moved to longer wavelength, near 170 nm, showing the P-O bond covalency increased after fluoridation. The f-d transitions of Ce³⁺ and Tb³⁺ in the host lattices are assigned and corroborated, and it was found that the 5d states are with lower energy in NaGdFPO₄:Ln³⁺ than those in GdPO₄:Ln³⁺. For fluoridation of GdPO₄:Ln³⁺ to NaGdFPO₄:Ln³⁺, the energy change of Ln³⁺ (Ln=Ce, Tb) 5d states is consistent with that of host-related absorption.     

Solvothermal synthesis and luminescent properties of monodisperse LaPO4:Ln (Ln=Eu, Ce, Tb) particles

Monodisperse rare-earth ion (Eu³⁺, Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺) doped LaPO₄ particles with oval morphology were successfully prepared through a facile solvothermal process without further heat treatment. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), photoluminescence (PL) spectra and the kinetic decays were performed to characterize these samples. The XRD results reveal that all the doped samples are well crystalline at 180 °C and assigned to the monoclinic monazite-type structure of the LaPO₄ phase. It has been shown that all the as-synthesized samples show perfectly oval morphology with narrow size distribution. The possible growth mechanism of the LaPO₄:Ln has been investigated as well. Upon excitation by ultraviolet radiation, the LaPO₄:Eu³⁺ phosphors show the characteristic ⁵D₀−⁷F_1-4 emission lines of Eu³⁺, while the LaPO₄:Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺ phosphors demonstrate the characteristic ⁵D₄−⁷F_3-6 emission lines of Tb³⁺.     

Comparative study on the synthesis, photoluminescence and application in InGaN-based light-emitting diodes of TAG:Ce phosphors

Cerium-doped terbium aluminum garnet phosphors, Tb₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺ (TAG:Ce³⁺), were prepared with different methods: co-precipitation (CP), half dry-half wet (HDHW), sol-combustion (SC) and Pechini method plus conventional solid state reaction (SS) method. Comparative study on the phase-formation, particle size, morphologies and luminescent characteristics of the phosphors synthesized with different methods was carried out by means of XRD, FE-SEM and photoluminescence (PL) analysis and SC method was confirmed by the comparison of the results to be an easy and an effective process for preparing efficient and nano-sized Tb₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺ phosphors. Various factors influencing particle size, morphology and PL of the phosphors, such as precursor preparation, reaction temperature and heating time, were also investigated. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were fabricated with each phosphor and a ∼460 nm emitting InGaN chip. The LEDs from SS, HDHW and CP exhibit strong white emission while those from SC and Pechini emit yellow, revealing that the emission characteristics of LEDs are influenced not only by the morphology and the particle size of the phosphors, but also by the preparing process of the phosphors.     

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.     

Electronic properties and rare-earth ions photoluminescence behaviors in borosilicate: SrB2Si2O8

Undoped and RE ions doped SrB₂Si₂O₈ were successfully synthesized. After the application of UV and VUV spectroscopy measurements, we made a novel discovery that the emission of SrB₂Si₂O₈:Eu prepared in air can be switched between red and blue by the different excitations. The information is that quite a part of Eu³⁺ was spontaneously reduced to Eu²⁺ in air. The PL properties of Eu²⁺ in VUV and Eu³⁺, Ce³⁺ and Tb³⁺ in UV-VUV region in SrB₂Si₂O₈ were evaluated for the first time. The excitation mechanisms of the O²⁻-Eu³⁺ CT, Ce³⁺f-d and Tb³⁺f-d transitions in UV region as well as the Eu³⁺f-d, O²⁻-Ce³⁺ CT, O²⁻-Tb³⁺ CT transitions and the host lattice absorption in VUV region were established. In addition, first principles calculation within the LDA of the DFT was applied to calculate the electronic structure and linear optical properties of SrB₂Si₂O₈ and the results were compared with the experimental data.     

空气中合成固溶体荧光粉Ba2(Zn, Mg)Si2O7:Ce3+,Eu2+,Eu3+及其发光特性

采用高温固相法在空气中合成了Ba_1.97-yZn_1-xMg_xSi₂O₇:0.03Eu,yCe³⁺系列荧光粉。分别采用X-射线衍射和荧光光谱对所合成荧光粉的物相和发光性质进行了表征。在紫外光330~360 nm激发下,固溶体荧光粉Ba_1.97-yZn_1-xMg_xSi₂O₇:0.03Eu的发射光谱在350~725 nm范围内呈现多谱峰发射,360和500 nm处有强的宽带发射属于Eu²⁺离子的4f⁶5d¹-4f⁷跃迁,590~725 nm红光区窄带谱源于Eu³⁺的⁵D₀-⁷F_J (J=1,2,3,4)跃迁,这表明,在空气气氛中,部分Eu³⁺在Ba_1.97-yZn_1-xMg_xSi₂O₇基质中被还原成了Eu²⁺;当x=0.1时,荧光粉Ba_1.97Zn_0.9Mg_0.1Si₂O₇:0.03Eu的绿色发光最强,表明Eu³⁺被还原成Eu²⁺离子的程度最大。当共掺入Ce³⁺离子后,形成Ba_1.97-yZn_0.9Mg_0.1Si₂O₇:0.03Eu,yCe³⁺荧光粉体系,其发光随着Ce³⁺离子浓度的增大由蓝绿区经白光区到达橙红区;发现名义组成为Ba_1.96Zn_0.9Mg_0.1Si₂O₇:0.01Ce³⁺,0.03Eu的荧光粉的色坐标为(0.323,0.311),接近理想白光,是一种有潜在应用价值的白光荧光粉。讨论了稀土离子在Ba₂Zn_0.9Mg_0.1Si₂O₇基质中的能量传递与发光机理。     

Preparation and photoluminescence properties of RE:Na3La9O3(BO3)8 (RE=Er, Yb) crystals

Using Na₂CO₃-H₃BO₃-NaF as fluxes, transparent RE:Na₃La₉O₃(BO₃)₈ (abbr. RE:NLBO, RE=Er, Yb) crystals have been grown by the top seed solution growth (TSSG) method. The X-ray powder diffraction analysis shows that the RE:NLBO crystals have the same structure with NLBO. The element contents were determined by molar to be 0.64% Er³⁺ in Er:NLBO, 2.70% Yb³⁺ in Yb:NLBO, respectively. The polarized absorption spectra of RE:NLBO have been measured at room temperature and show that both Er:NLBO and Yb:NLBO have a strong absorption bands near 980 nm with wide FWHM (Full Wave at Half Maximum) (21 nm for Er:NLBO and 25 nm for Yb:NLBO). Fluorescence spectra have been recorded. Yb:NLBO has the emission peaks at 985 nm, 1028 nm and 1079 nm and the emission peak of Er:NLBO is at 1536 nm. Spectral parameters have been calculated by the Judd-Ofelt theory for Er:NLBO and the reciprocity method for Yb:NLBO, respectively. The calculated values show that Er:NLBO is a candidate of 1.55 μm laser crystals and Yb:NLBO is a candidate for self-frequency doubling crystal.     

Ca9Y(PO4)7:Ce3+,Tb3+纳米荧光粉的制备及发光性能

采用水热法制备出Ca_9Y(PO4)7∶Ce~(3+),Tb~(3+)纳米荧光粉,通过XRD、SEM和荧光光谱等对样品进行了分析,研究在Ca_9Y(PO4)7基质中引入Ce~(3+),Tb~(3+)离子对发光性能的影响规律。研究发现因Tb~(3+)离子自身能量交叉驰豫的存在,使得单掺Tb~(3+)时,通过调节Tb~(3+)离子的浓度可以实现对发光颜色的控制。同时研究了Ce~(3+)-Tb~(3+)之间的能量传递为电多极相互作用的偶极-四极机制,Ce~(3+)-Tb~(3+)之间最大的能量传递效率为55.6%。Ca_9Y(PO4)7∶Ce~(3+),Tb~(3+)的发光颜色可以通过激活离子之间的能量传递和共发射得到可控调节。SEM分析表明荧光粉颗粒尺寸在100 nm左右,分散性好。     

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.     

Preparation and structural study from neutron diffraction data of Pr5Mo3O16

The title compound has been prepared as polycrystalline powder by thermal treatments of mixtures of Pr₆O₁₁ and MoO₂ in air. In the literature, an oxide with a composition Pr₂MoO₆ has been formerly described to present interesting catalytic properties, but its true stoichiometry and crystal structure are reported here for the first time. It is cubic, isostructural with CdTm₄Mo₃O₁₆ (space group Pn-3n, Z=8), with a=11.0897(1) Å. The structure contains MoO₄ tetrahedral units, with Mo-O distances of 1.788(2) Å, fully long-range ordered with PrO₈ polyhedra; in fact it can be considered as a superstructure of fluorite (M₈O₁₆), containing 32 MO₂ fluorite formulae per unit cell, with a lattice parameter related to that of cubic fluorite (a_f=5.5 Å) as a≈2a_f. A bond valence study indicates that Mo exhibits a mixed oxidation state between 5+ and 6+ (perhaps accounting for the excellent catalytic properties). One kind of Pr atoms is trivalent whereas the second presents a mixed Pr³⁺-Pr⁴⁺ oxidation state. The similarity of the XRD pattern with that published for Ce₂MoO₆ suggests that this compound also belongs to the same structural type, with an actual stoichiometry Ce₅Mo₃O₁₆.     

Luminescence of Tb-doped Ca3Y2(Si3O9)2 oxide upon UV and VUV synchrotron radiation excitation

Powders of calcium yttrium silicate, Ca₃Y₂(Si₃O₉)₂, containing 0.1-3% Tb³⁺ were prepared using a sol-gel method and characterized with XRD, IR, UV-vis and UV-VUV spectroscopies at room temperature and 10 K. Structural analysis revealed pure monoclinic phase of Ca₃Y₂(Si₃O₉)₂ after heat-treatment at 1000 °C. Infrared spectroscopy showed that between 800 and 900 °C a short-range structural organization of the components proceeded, yet without crystallization. A strong emission of Tb³⁺ had been observed both in the green part of the spectrum due to the ⁵D₄→⁷F_J transitions and in the blue-violet region owing to the ⁵D₃→⁷F_J radiative relaxation. The color of the light could be tuned from yellowish-green to bluish-white both by means of the dopant content and the temperature of synthesis. Efficient luminescence of Tb³⁺-doped Ca₃Y₂(Si₃O₉)₂ phosphors could also be obtained upon stimulation with vacuum ultraviolet synchrotron radiation demonstrating that an energy transfer from the host to the Tb³⁺ ions takes place.