Hydrothermal Synthesis of SrMoO₄:Eu³⁺, Sm³⁺ Phosphors and Their Enhanced Luminescent Properties Through Energy Transfer

Abstract

Eu³⁺ and Sm³⁺ co-doped SrMoO₄ phosphors have been successfully prepared via a simple surfactant-free hydrothermal method. The as-prepared phosphors present dumbbell-like agglomerates and comprise of many nanoparticles of 150–300 nm in diameter. Eu³⁺ and Sm³⁺ co-doped SrMoO₄ phosphors display all the characteristic excitations and emissions of Eu³⁺ and Sm³⁺. The introduction of Sm³⁺ can generate a strong excitation line at 403 nm, originating from the ⁶H_5/2 → ⁴K_11/2 transition of Sm³⁺, which significantly broadened the excitation region for matching the near ultraviolet light emitting diodes (∼400 nm). And Sm³⁺ ions can transfer the absorbed energy to Eu³⁺ ions efficiently, so the intensity of the main emission peak at 614 nm due to ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ transition of Eu³⁺ are strengthened by the co-doping of Sm³⁺. The doping concentration of Eu³⁺/Sm³⁺ was optimized. In addition, the possible energy transfer mechanism has been investigated and is discussed in detail.