Synthesis and luminescence properties of CaMO4:Dy3+ (M = W, Mo) nanoparticles prepared via an ethylene glycol route

CaWO4 and CaMoO4 doped with Dy3+ nanoparticles are obtained via an ethylene glycol route at temperature as low as 130 degrees C. The XRD results reveal that all the doped samples are well assigned to the scheelite structure of the CaWO4 and the CaMoO4 phase. Upon excitation by ultraviolet radiation, the CaWO4: Dy3+ and CaMoO4: Dy3+ phosphors demonstrate the characteristic F-4(9/2)-H-6(13/2-15/2) emission line of Dy3+. Photoluminescence examination revealed yellow phosphorescence for CaWO4: Dy3+ and yellowish white for CaMoO4: Dy3+ nanoparticles. The highest emission is observed when doped with 5 at% Dy3+ for the CaWO4 host and 7 at% Dy3+ for CaMoO4 samples. Doping the host with Dy3+ tunes the emission wavelength from blue-green to white for CaMoO4 and blue to yellow for CaWO4 nanoparticles. This multicolour tuning emission could increase their applicability in fluorescent lamps and display panels.