Morphology control and luminescence properties of BaMgAl10O17:Eu phosphors prepared by spray pyrolysis

Starting from the aqueous solutions of metal nitrates with citric acid and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as additives, BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:Eu²⁺ (BAM:Eu²⁺) phosphors were prepared by a two-step spray pyrolysis (SP) method. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photoluminescence spectra were used to characterize the resulted BAM:Eu²⁺ phosphors. The obtained BAM:Eu²⁺ phosphor particles have spherical shape, submicron size (0.5-3 μm). The effects of process conditions of the spray pyrolysis, such as molecular weight and concentration of PEG, on the morphology and luminescence properties of phosphor particles were investigated. Adequate amount of PEG was necessary for obtaining spherical particles, and the optimum emission intensity could be obtained when the concentration of PEG was 0.03 g/ml in the precursor solution. Moreover, the emission intensity of the phosphors increased with increasing of metal ion concentration in the solution. Compared with the BAM:Eu²⁺ phosphor prepared by citrate-gel method, spherical BAM:Eu²⁺ phosphor particles showed a higher emission intensity.     

Y2O3:Eu (5 mol%) with Ag nanoparticles prepared by citrate precursor

Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ (5 mol% Eu³⁺) and Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ (5 mol% Eu³⁺) containing 1 mol% of Ag nanoparticles were prepared by heat treatment of a viscous resin obtained via citrate precursor. TEM and EDS analyses showed that Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ (5 mol% Eu³⁺) is formed by nanoparticles with an average size of 12 nm, which increases to 30 nm when Ag is present because the effect of metal induced crystallization occurs. Ag nanoparticles with a size of 9 nm dispersed in Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ (5 mol% Eu³⁺) were obtained and the surface plasmon effect on Ag nanoparticles was observed. The emission around 612 nm assigned to the Eu³⁺ (⁵D₀→⁷F₂) transition enhanced when the Ag nanoparticles were present in the Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ luminescent material.     

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.     

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.     

First-principle Studies on Enhanced Optical Stability of BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+ Phosphor by SiN Doping

Using density functional theory, we studied band structure, density of states, optical proper-ties and Mulliken population of the pure and SiN doped BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:Eu²⁺(BAM:Eu²⁺) phosphors. Calculation results showed that the bands of BAM:Eu²⁺ were of low band en-ergy dispersion, indicating large joint density of states, hence high performance of optical absorption and luminescence. BAM:Eu²⁺ showed stronger absorption intensity while Eu²⁺ occupied the BR sites instead of the mO sites. The concentration of Eu²⁺ at BR sites increased while that at mO sites decreased after Si-N doping. The influence of the vari-ation of Eu²⁺ distribution on the spectra was stronger than the influence of the decrease of Eu²⁺ PDOS when SiN concentration was lower than 0.25, therefore the absorption andluminescence intensity of BAM:Eu²⁺ were enhanced. Mulliken population of Si-N bond was higher than Al-O bond, while that of Eu-N bond was higher than Eu-O bond as well, indicating that Si-N bonds and Eu-N bonds possessed higher covalence than Al-O bonds and Eu-N bonds respectively. The existence of Si-N bonds and Eu-N bonds enhanced the local covalence of Eu²⁺, hence the optical stability of BAM:Eu²⁺.     

A re-investigation of the crystal structure and luminescence of BaCa2MgSi2O8:Eu

Barium calcium magnesium silicate (BaCa₂MgSi₂O₈), a compound whose space group was obtained via X-ray diffraction data, was re-investigated using neutron diffraction techniques. A combined powder X-ray and neutron Rietveld method revealed that BaCa₂MgSi₂O₈ crystallizes in the trigonal space group P3? (Z=1, a=5.42708(5) Å, c=6.79455(7) Å, V=173.310(4) Å³; R_p/R_wp=5.52%/7.63%), instead of the previously believed space group P3?m1. The difference in the two structures arises from the displacement of the O2 atom. Blue emission from Ba_0.98Eu_0.02Ca₂MgSi₂O₈ under 325-nm excitation is ascribed to the 4f⁶5d¹→4f⁷ transitions of Eu²⁺ ions at Ba sites and Ca sites. Site assignment of Eu²⁺ ions in the titled compound was performed by analysis of emission spectra at temperatures in the range of 4.2-300 K.     

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.     

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).     

Crystal structure of Eu-doped M3MgSi2O8 (M: Ba, Sr, Ca) compounds and their emission properties

Emission properties of Eu²⁺-doped M₃MgSi₂O₈ (M: Ba, Sr, Ca) are discussed in terms of the crystal structure. When Ba²⁺ ions account for over one third of M²⁺ ions, M₃MgSi₂O₈ crystallizes in glaserite-type trigonal structure, while Ba-free compounds crystallize in merwinite-type monoclinic structure. Under UV excitation, the Eu²⁺-doped glaserite-type compounds exhibit an intense blue emission assigned to 5d-4f electron transition at about 435 nm, regardless of the molar ratio of Ba²⁺, Sr²⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions. By contrast, the Eu²⁺-doped merwinite-type compounds show an emission color sensitive to the ratio. A detailed analysis of the emission spectra reveals that the emission chromaticity for the Eu²⁺-doped M₃MgSi₂O₈ is composed of two emission peaks reflecting two different sites accommodating M²⁺ ion.     

Synthesis and spectral characteristics of Sr2Y8(SiO4)6O2: Eu polycrystals

Spectral-luminescent characteristics of Sr₂Y₈(SiO₄)₆O₂: Eu powder crystal phosphor with the apatite structure and high-intensity luminescence of Eu³⁺ ions have been studied. The charge state of europium in the samples has been characterized by means of X-ray L₃-adsorption spectroscopy. It was established that Eu³⁺ forms two types of optical centers. Besides, luminescence of Eu²⁺ions was found. Reduction Eu³⁺→Eu²⁺ was considered, which may be due to vacancy formation in the 4f crystal lattice position and to negative charge transfer by this vacancy to two ions. Thus, in the silicate lattice there exist inhomogeneously distributed oxygen-deficient centers, which are responsible for nonradiative transfer of excitation energy to Eu³⁺ and Eu²⁺ ions. To study electron-vibrational interactions in the crystal phosphor samples, their IR and Raman spectra were examined. In the luminescence spectrum of Eu²⁺, a series of low-intensity bands caused by interaction of the 4f⁶5d state of Eu²⁺ with silicate lattice vibrations was observed.     

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.     

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.     

Crystal structure of Ca12Al14O32Cl2 and luminescence properties of Ca12Al14O32Cl2:Eu

The crystal structure of Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₂Cl₂ was determined from laboratory X-ray powder diffraction data (CuKα₁) using the Rietveld method, with the anisotropic displacement parameters being assigned for all atoms. The crystal structure is cubic (space group , Z=2) with lattice dimensions a=1.200950(5) nm and V=1.73211(1) nm³. The reliability indices calculated from the Rietveld method were R_wp=8.48% (S=1.21), R_p=6.05%, R_B=1.27% and R_F=1.01%. The validity of the structural model was verified by the three-dimensional electron density distribution, the structural bias of which was reduced as much as possible using the maximum-entropy methods-based pattern fitting (MPF). The reliability indices calculated from the MPF were R_B=0.75% and R_F=0.56%. In the structural model there are one Ca site, two Al sites, two O sites and one Cl site. This compound is isomorphous with Ca₁₂Al_10.6Si_3.4O₃₂Cl_5.4. Europium-doped sample Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₂Cl₂:Eu²⁺ was prepared and the photoluminescence properties were presented. The excitation spectrum consisted of two wide bands, which were located at about 268 and 324 nm. The emission spectrum, when excited at 324 nm, resulted in indigo light with a peak at about 442 nm.     

Photoluminescence and structural characteristics of Lu2O3:Eu nanocrystallites in silica matrix

Two silica ceramics were obtained by mixing nanocrystalline Lu₂O₃:Eu³⁺ with silica sol using the sol-gel technique. The synthesis procedure for both samples differed in the pH of the sol and time of the sol condensation before substrates were mixed together, which implied their different optical properties. The first one has the same spectroscopic properties as Lu₂O₃:Eu³⁺ nanocrystallites with an exception of small lowering of the charge transfer (CT) band intensity. This feature is preserved up to about 950 °C. Above this temperature, nanocrystallites of Lu₂O₃:Eu³⁺ react with the silica matrix synthesis pyrosilicate (Lu₂Si₂O₇). The Eu³⁺ ions occupy only one crystallographic site in the crystal lattice for low concentration of the activator (1%) and two sites for higher concentration (10%). The second sample exhibits different Eu³⁺ emission than Lu₂O₃:Eu³⁺ nanocrystallites and, additionally, a broad band of the matrix originating at the green region of the spectrum. Sintering the sample at higher temperatures leads to disappearance of this broad emission and continuous changes of the Eu³⁺ emission because of the progressive conversion of the Lu₂O₃:Eu³⁺ to pyrosilicate. At 1300 °C for both samples, the reaction of synthesis lutetium pyrosilicate is completed. Structural characteristic of the samples is presented and correlate with the decay profile of the Eu³⁺ emission.     

Sr7Zr(PO4)6∶xEu2+蓝色荧光粉的合成及其发光特性

通过高温固相反应合成了新型的蓝色荧光粉Sr₇Zr(PO₄)₆∶xEu²⁺。通过X射线粉末衍射(XRD)、紫外可见(UV-Vis)吸收光谱、荧光光谱研究了Sr₇Zr(PO₄)₆∶xEu²⁺材料的相纯度及荧光性质。结果表明,Eu²⁺掺杂获得的Sr₇Zr(PO₄)₆∶xEu²⁺荧光粉为纯相,且200~400 nm范围内的近紫外(NUV)光均能对其进行有效的激发。在315 nm的激发下,Sr₇Zr(PO₄)₆∶xEu²⁺荧光粉发射出峰值位于415 nm左右的蓝光,且Eu²⁺在Sr₇Zr (PO₄)₆基质中的最佳掺杂浓度为0.05,相应的CIE色度坐标为(0.164,0.021),比商用BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇∶Eu²⁺(BAM)蓝色荧光粉具有更高的色纯度。     

Vacuum Ultraviolet Excited Photoluminescence Properties of Y2O2S：Eu^3＋,Bi^3＋ Phosphor

As an Hg-free lamp using phosphor, the Bi^3＋ and EH^3＋ co-doped Y2O2S phosphors were prepared and their luminescence properties under vacuum ultraviolet（VUV） excitation were investigated. The VUV photoluminescent intensity of Y2O2S：Eu^3＋ was weak, however, considerably stronger red emission at 626 nm with good color purity was observed in Y2O2S：Eu^3＋,Bi^3＋ systems. Investigation on the photoluminescence reveals that the strong VUV luminescence of Y2O2S：Eu^3＋,Bi^3＋ at 147 nm is mainly because the Bi^3＋ acts as a medium and effectively performs the energy transfer process： Y^3＋-O^2-→Bi^3＋→Eu^3＋, while the intense emission band at 172 nm is attributed to the absorption of the characteristic ^1So-^1P1 transition of Bi^3＋ and the direct energy transfer from Bi^3＋ to Eu^3＋. The Y2O2S：Eu^3＋,Bi^3＋ shows excellent VUV optical properties compared with the commercial （Y,Gd）BO3：Eu^3＋. Thus, the Y2O2S：Eu^3＋,Bi^3＋ can be a potential red VUV-excited candidate applied in Hg-free lamps for backlight of liquid crystal display.     

La7O6(BO3)(PO4)2:Eu3+/Tb3+荧光材料的制备及其光致发光性能

采用优化的高温固相方法制备了稀土离子Eu³⁺和Tb³⁺掺杂的La₇O₆（BO₃）（PO₄）₂系荧光材料,并对其物相行为、晶体结构、光致发光性能和热稳定性进行了详细研究。结果表明,La₇O₆（BO₃）（PO₄）₂：Eu³⁺材料在紫外光激发下能够发射出红光,发射光谱中最强发射峰位于616 nm处,为⁵D₀→⁷F₂特征能级跃迁,Eu³⁺的最优掺杂浓度为0.08,对应的CIE坐标为（0.610 2,0.382 3）;La₇O₆（BO₃）（PO₄）₂：Tb³⁺材料在紫外光激发下能够发射出绿光,发射光谱中最强发射峰位于544 nm处,对应Tb³⁺的⁵D₄→⁷F₅能级跃迁,Tb³⁺离子的最优掺杂浓度为0.15,对应的CIE坐标为（0.317 7,0.535 2）。此外,对2种材料的变温光谱分析发现Eu³⁺和Tb³⁺掺杂的La₇O₆（BO₃）（PO₄）₂荧光材料均具有良好的热稳定性。     

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.     

High-pressure transitions in MgAl2O4 and a new high-pressure phase of Mg2Al2O5

Phase transitions in MgAl₂O₄ were examined at 21-27 GPa and 1400-2500 °C using a multianvil apparatus. A mixture of MgO and Al₂O₃ corundum that are high-pressure dissociation products of MgAl₂O₄ spinel combines into calcium-ferrite type MgAl₂O₄ at 26-27 GPa and 1400-2000 °C. At temperature above 2000 °C at pressure below 25.5 GPa, a mixture of Al₂O₃ corundum and a new phase with Mg₂Al₂O₅ composition is stable. The transition boundary between the two fields has a strongly negative pressure-temperature slope. Structure analysis and Rietveld refinement on the basis of the powder X-ray diffraction profile of the Mg₂Al₂O₅ phase indicated that the phase represented a new structure type with orthorhombic symmetry (Pbam), and the lattice parameters were determined as a=9.3710(6) Å, b=12.1952(6) Å, c=2.7916(2) Å, V=319.03(3) Å³, Z=4. The structure consists of edge-sharing and corner-sharing (Mg, Al)O₆ octahedra, and contains chains of edge-sharing octahedra running along the c-axis. A part of Mg atoms are accommodated in six-coordinated trigonal prism sites in tunnels surrounded by the chains of edge-sharing (Mg, Al)O₆ octahedra. The structure is related with that of ludwigite (Mg, Fe²⁺)₂(Fe³⁺, Al)(BO₃)O₂. The molar volume of the Mg₂Al₂O₅ phase is smaller by 0.18% than sum of molar volumes of 2MgO and Al₂O₃ corundum. High-pressure dissociation to the mixture of corundum-type phase and the phase with ludwigite-related structure has been found only in MgAl₂O₄ among various A²⁺B³⁺₂O₄ compounds.     

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.