Ca₂ZrSi₄O₁₂:Eu³⁺, Bi³⁺ phosphor: synthesis, tunable emission, and luminescence properties

Abstract

Ca₂ZrSi₄O₁₂:R (CZSO:R) (R = Eu³⁺, Bi³⁺, and Eu³⁺/Bi³⁺) phosphors are successfully synthesized in air through high-temperature solid-state method. Host CZSO and CZSO:Bi³⁺ phosphor with excitation at 300 nm emit blue light. CZSO:Eu³⁺ phosphor with changing Eu³⁺ content shows tunable emission from white to red light under excitation at 300 nm and only emits red light under excitation at 395 nm. CZSO:10%Eu³⁺, Bi³⁺ phosphor shows tunable emission from blue to red light under excitation at 300 nm, and only emits red light with excitation at 395 nm when Bi³⁺ ion concentration is changed. Luminescence properties of CZSO:Eu³⁺ phosphor may be improved by co-doping Bi³⁺ ion. The luminous mechanism of CZSO:Eu³⁺, Bi³⁺ phosphor is explained by the energy level diagrams of Bi³⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions.