Sr1.7Zn0.3CeO4: Eu3+ Novel Red-Emitting Phosphors: Synthesis and Photoluminescence Properties

A series of novel red-emitting Sr1.7Zn0.3CeO4:Eu3+ phosphors were synthesized through conventional solid-state reactions. The powder X-ray diffraction patterns and Rietveld refinement verified the similar phase of Sr1.7Zn0.3CeO4:Eu3+ to that of Sr2CeO4. The photoluminescence spectrum exhibits that peak located at 614 nm (D-5(0)-F-7(2)) dominates the emission of Sr1.7Zn0.3CeO4:Eu3+ phosphors. Because there are two regions in the excitation spectrum originating from the overlap of the Ce4+-O2- and Eu3+-O2- charge-transfer state band from 200 to 440 nm, and from the intra-4f transitions at 395 and 467 nm, the Sr1.7Zn0.3CeO4:Eu3+ phosphors can be well excited by the near-UV light. The investigation of the concentration quenching behavior, luminescence decay curves, and lifetime implies that the dominant mechanism type leading to concentration quenching is the energy transfer among the nearest neighbor or next nearest neighbor activators. The discussion about the dependence of photoluminescence spectra on temperature shows the better thermal quenching properties of Sr1.7Zn0.3CeO4:Eu3+ than that of Sr2CeO4:Eu3+. The experimental data indicates that Sr1.7Zn0.3CeO4:Eu3+ phosphors have the potential as red phosphors for white light-emitting diodes.