Tuning of the Compositions and Multiple Activator Sites toward Single-Phased White Emission in (Ca9–xSrx)MgK(PO4)7:Eu2+ Phosphors for Solid-State Lighting

Inorg. Chem. 2019, 58, 8, 5006–5012 https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b00028

Manipulating the distribution of rare earth activators in multiple cations’ sites of phosphor materials is an essential step to obtain tunable emission for the phosphor-converted white-light-emitting diodes (pc-WLEDs). However, it remains the challenge to realize the photoluminescence tuning in the single-phased phosphor with single activator, due to the uncertain location of doped ions and adjustable crystallographic sites. Herein we reported the β-Ca3(PO4)2-type solid solution phosphors (Ca8.98–xSrx)MgK(PO4)7:2%Eu2+ (x = 0–8.98) and the effects of replacing Ca2+ by Sr2+ ions on the phase structures and color-tunable emission were investigated in detail. Tunable color emission has been realized by manipulating the redistribution of Eu2+ ions among different cation sites with adjustable chemical environment, and the related mechanism on the local structures has been discussed. The high Ra (85) and low color temperature (CCT) (4465 K) values of the as-fabricated WLEDs lamp indicate that (Ca4.98Sr4)MgK(PO4)7:2%Eu2+ can act as a promising white-emitting phosphor for single-phased pc-WLEDs. This work provides a new insight into the tuning of the compositions and multiple activator sites toward single-phased white emission.

A review on the Eu2+ doped β-Ca3 (PO4) 2-type phosphors and the sites occupancy for photoluminescence tuning

Opt. Mater.X., 2019, 1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590147819300099

β-Ca3(PO4)2-type phosphors have received much attention due to their ability for heterovalent substitution of Ca2+ by different cations to form the new phases, and their abundant crystallographic sites for the doped activator, such as Eu2+, to tune the photoluminescence. Thus, these phosphors have great potential on the applications in white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) for their tunable emission. Accordingly, there is increasing interest in the discovery of new β-Ca3(PO4)2-type phosphors for WLEDs and the deep understanding on the mechanisms responsible for occupation by Eu2+ ions of particular sites in the host lattice, so that the modulation of emission color and intensity can be controlled. In this review, we summarized the structural construction of β-Ca3(PO4)2-type compounds based on such a mineral-inspired prototype evolution perspective. Then we reviewed the recent research on the luminescence properties and sites occupancy of Eu2+ ions in different β-Ca3(PO4)2-type phosphors. Finally, combining with the current advances, we proposed the research prospects and future work of β-Ca3(PO4)2-type phosphors.

Luminescent thermal stability and electronic structure of narrow-band green-emitting Sr-Sialon: Eu2+ phosphors for LED/LCD backlights

J. Alloys Compd., 2019, 805, 1246-1253. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S092583881932715X

Stable and high-efficiency narrow-band green phosphor is a key component for wide color gamut liquid crystal display (LCD) backlights. In this paper, narrow-band green-emitting Sr3-3xSi13Al3O2N21:3xEu2+ (0.001 ≤ x ≤ 0.09) (Sr-Sialon:Eu2+) phosphor with a full-width at half maximum of 66 nm has been successfully synthesized by using the solid-state reaction method. All the samples are the pure phase with Sr3Si13Al3O2N21-type structure. Their emission band maximum can be tuned from 495 to 523 nm by increasing Eu2+ content. The compound with x = 0.03 possesses the highest luminescence intensity with the peak position around 510 nm. Luminescent thermal stability gets better with Eu2+ concentration decreasing. The integrated intensity of the sample with x = 0.01 at 425 K remains about 80% of the intensity at room temperature. The host referred binding energy (HRBE) and vacuum referred binding energy (VRBE) schemes are constructed to further explain its luminescent thermal quenching mechanism. White light-emitting-diode (w-LED) device using optimized Sr2.91Si13Al3O2N21:0.09Eu2+ phosphor demonstrates its potential application for LCD backlights.

Enhanced Yellow Persistent Luminescence in Sr3SiO5:Eu2+ through Ge Incorporation

Inorg. Chem., 2019, 58, 13, 8694–8701. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b01020

Abstract Image

The Sr3SiO5:Eu2+ phosphor has attracted considerable attention for applications in white LEDs owing to its highly efficient yellow emission under violet-blue excitation. We report herein an enhancement of yellow persistent luminescence in Sr3SiO5:Eu2+ through Ge incorporation. The strongest persistent luminescence intensity is observed for Sr3(Si1–xGex)O5:Eu2+ with x = 0.005 with a peak emission wavelength at ∼580 nm and a persistent time of ∼7000 s at the 0.32 mcd/m2 threshold value after UV radiation. A combination of thermoluminescence measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveals that the afterglow enhancement is due to a significant increase in the number of oxygen vacancies that act as electron trapping centers with appropriate trap depths. This investigation is anticipated to encourage more exploration of GeSi substitution to design and improve Si-containing persistent phosphors with superior functionalities.

Li substituent tuning of LED phosphors with enhanced efficiency, tunable photoluminescence, and improved thermal stability

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aav0363?intcmp=trendmd-adv&

Solid-state phosphor-converted white light-emitting diodes (pc-WLEDs) are currently revolutionizing the lighting industry. To advance the technology, phosphors with high efficiency, tunable photoluminescence, and high thermal stability are required. Here, we demonstrate that a simple lithium incorporation in NaAlSiO4:Eu system enables the simultaneous fulfillment of the three criteria. The Li substitution at Al sites beside Na sites in NaAlSiO4:Eu leads to an enhanced emission intensity/efficiency owing to an effective Eu3+ to Eu2+ reduction, an emission color tuning from yellow to green by tuning the occupation of different Eu sites, and an improvement of luminescence thermal stability as a result of the interplay with Li-related defects. A pc-WLED using the Li-codoped NaAlSiO4:Eu as a green component exhibits improved performance. The phosphors with multiple activator sites can facilitate the positive synergistic effect on luminescence properties.

Green persistent luminescence and the electronic structure of β-Sialon: Eu 2+

https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2019/tc/c9tc03833g/unauth

Graphical abstract: Green persistent luminescence and the electronic structure of β-Sialon:Eu2+

Divalent europium doped aluminum silicate oxy-nitride (β-Sialon:Eu2+) has been widely used in backlights for liquid-crystal displays due to its outstanding green emission properties. Herein, the persistent luminescence (PersL) performance and electronic structure of β-Sialon:Eu2+ with the general formula Eu0.015Si5.5Al0.485O0.515N7.485 are first reported. The PersL duration is observed to be 400 s after 254 nm irradiation. By virtue of density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we verify that the trap levels responsible for PersL are impurity levels induced by Si–O bonds located below the bottom of the conduction band (CB) on random substitution of Al–O for Si–N in β-Si3N4. The trap depth and density are estimated through experimental data. The charging process for PersL is clarified by the thermoluminescence excitation (TLE) spectrum. The electronic structure diagrams (host referred binding energy, HRBE and vacuum referred binding energy scheme, VRBE) of β-Sialon:Eu2+ are constructed to deeply understand the PersL mechanism and luminescence behavior. We propose a novel strategy to construct the HRBE schemes, i.e. using the onset energy of the thermoluminescence excitation (TLE) spectrum as the energy difference between the 4f ground state and the bottom of the CB to pinpoint the 4f energy level location of Eu2+. This work would allow more rational design of luminescent materials.

Color-Tunable Persistent Luminescence of Ca10M(PO4)7:Eu2+(M = Li, Na, and K) with a β-Ca3(PO4)2 -Type

Inorg. Chem. 2021, 60, 6, 3952–3960.https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.

Eu2+-activated Ca10M(PO4)7 (M = Li, Na, and K) phosphates have been explored extensively because of their tunable emission wavelengths and excellent luminescence performances. Herein, the persistent luminescence (PersL) properties of Eu2+-doped Ca10M(PO4)7 phosphors with a β-Ca3(PO4)2-type structure are reported. With the variation of alkali metal M from Li to Na and to K, the PersL color can be adjusted sequentially from yellow to white and to blue, and the persistent durations are prolonged significantly from about ∼61 s for Ca9.997Li(PO4)7:0.003Eu2+ to ∼1950 s for Ca9.999Na(PO4)7:0.001Eu2+ and to ∼7440 s for Ca9.9995K(PO4)7:0.0005Eu2+ at the threshold value (0.32 mcd/m2) after 254 nm irradiation. The trap depths are estimated according to the thermoluminescence glow curves with various heating rates. Comparing the thermoluminescence excitation and photoluminescence excitation spectra, it can be verified that there are two sources of ionized electrons in the charging process: one is excited from the valence band to the conduction band (CB) and the other is excited from the 4f ground state of Eu2+ to the higher 5d levels or directly to the CB. Finally, the PersL mechanism is proposed. This work is expected to motivate more research of Eu2+-doped phosphate-based PersL materials, as well as contributes to the understanding of the PersL mechanism of Eu2+-doped phosphors.

The red persistent luminescence of (Sr,Ca)AlSiN3:Eu2+ and mechanism different to SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+

Journal of Luminescence, April 2019, 208

(Sr,Ca)AlSiN3:Eu²⁺ phosphors have been widely used in phosphor-converted white light emitting diodes. Herein, we reported the strong red persistent luminescence in (Sr,Ca)AlSiN3:Eu²⁺ under UV light excitation. The Sr0.8Ca0.2AlSiN3:0.15% Eu²⁺ shows the strongest red persistent luminescence with a peak emission wavelength at ~628 nm and a persistent time of ~9600 s at the 0.32 mcd/m² threshold value. A new persistent luminescence mechanism, which is different to that of SrAl2O4:Eu²⁺,Dy³⁺, was proposed by comparing the thermoluminescence excitation spectrum (TLES) and the photoluminescence excitation spectrum (PLES) of Sr0.8Ca0.2AlSiN3:0.15% Eu²⁺. The electrons are directly excited from 4f ground states to the conduction band or from valence band to conduction band in (Sr,Ca)AlSiN3:Eu²⁺; while, in SrAl2O4:Eu²⁺,Dy³⁺, they are first excited to 5d level and then stimulated thermal process to the conduction band. The effect of Eu²⁺ concentration on red persistent luminescence in (Sr,Ca)AlSiN3:Eu²⁺ were discussed. The proposed mechanism of persistent luminescence can help us to design and find new persistent luminescence materials.

Effects of full-range Eu concentration on Sr2-2xEu2xSi5N8 phosphors: A deep-red emission and luminescent thermal quenching

Journal of Alloys and Compounds, Volume 770, 5 January 2019, Pages 1069-1077

To fabricate white-light-emitting diodes (white LEDs) with high color-rendering index or full light spectrum emission, the discovery of more efficient deep-red emitting phosphor materials is essential. In this paper, we have synthesized a series of Sr2-2xEu2xSi5N8 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) solid-solution compounds, and have systemically investigated effects of full-range Eu concentration on their luminescence. Their emission band maximum can be largely tuned from 610 to 725 nm by increasing Eu content. Reabsorption at low Eu2+ concentration while both the energy transfer and Stocks shift at high Eu2+ concentration account for this large spectral red-shift. Luminescent thermal quenching performance gets worse with Eu2+ concentration increasing. The compound with x = 0.15 possesses the best crystallinity and the highest luminescence intensity with the peak position around 660 nm, and still maintains 88.5% room-temperature intensity at 400 K, indicating that great potential for the application as a deep-red phosphor.

    Tuning of Photoluminescence and Local Structures of Substituted Cations in xSr2Ca(PO4)2–(1 – x)Ca10Li(PO4)7:Eu2+ Phosphors

    Chem. Mater., 2017, 29, 3, 1430–1438. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.7b00006

    Local structure modification in solid solution is an essential part of photoluminescence tuning of rare earth doped solid state phosphors. Herein we report a new solid solution phosphor of Eu2+-doped xSr2Ca(PO4)2–(1–x)Ca10Li(PO4)7 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1), which share the same β-Ca3(PO4)2 type structure in the full composition range. Depending on the x parameter variation in xSr2Ca(PO4)2–(1 – x)Ca10Li(PO4)7:Eu2+, the vacancies generated in the M(4) site enable the nonlinear variation of cell parameters and volume, and this increases the magnitude of M(4)O6 polyhedra distortion. The local structure modulation around the Eu2+ ions causes different luminescent behaviors of the two-peak emission and induces the photoluminescence tuning. The shift of the emission peaks in the solid solution phosphors with different compositions has been discussed. It remains invariable at x ≤ 0.5, but the red-shift is observed at x > 0.5 which is attributed to combined effect of the crystal field splitting, Stokes shift, and energy transfer between Eu2+ ions. The temperature-dependent luminescence measurements are also performed, and it is shown that the photoionization process is responsible for the quenching effect.