Synthesis, energy transfer and tunable emission properties of SrSb2O6:Eu3+, Bi3+ phosphor

Host SrSb2O6, SrSb2O6:Bi3+, SrSb2O6:Eu3+, and SrSb2O6:Eu3+, Bi3+ phosphors are synthesized by solid state reaction method in air. Host SrSb2O6 with excitation 254 nm shows weak green-yellow emission in the range of 320-780 nm due to Sb5+ -> O2- transition. SrSb2O6:Bi3+ phosphor with excitation 365 nm emits green light within the range 400-650 nm owing to the P-3(1) -> S-1(0) transition of Bi3+ ion. SrSb2O6:Eu3+ phosphor with excitation 254 nm exhibits a systematically varied hue from green to orange-red light by increasing Eu3+ concentration from 0 to 7 mol%, and that with excitation 394 nm only shows orange-red light. The optimal Eu3+ concentration is similar to 4 mol% in SrSb2O6:Eu3+ phosphor. SrSb2O6:Eu3+, Bi3+ phosphor with excitation 254 and 394 nm emits orange-red light. Emission intensity of SrSb2O6:Eu3+ phosphor may be enhanced >2 times by co-doping Bi3+ ion because of the fluxing agent and energy transfer roles of Bi3+ ion in SrSb2O6:Eu3+, Bi3+ phosphor. The luminous mechanism of SrSb2O6:Eu3+, Bi3+ phosphor is analyzed and explained by the simplified energy level diagrams of Sb2O62- group, Bi3+ and Eu3+ ions, and energy transfer processes between them. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.