Preparation and Properties of Carbon Dot-Grafted CaAl12O19:Mn4+ Color-Tunable Hybrid Phosphor

A series of carbon dots (CDs) grafted CaAl12O19:Mn4+ (CAO) color-tunable hybrid phosphors have been synthesized via a facile sol-gel method. Through the hydrolysis and condensation reactions of the silica precursor, CDs can be incorporated into highly flexible hybrid materials through combining with a CaAl12O19:Mn4+ phosphor within silica gel networks for the fabrication of flexible displays and multicolor luminescent materials. By tuning the mass ratio of CDs/CAO and by adjusting the excitation wavelength, the color of the luminescence can be systematically tailored from purplish-red (0.504, 0.250) to greenish-blue (0.238, 0.192). Furthermore, the temperature-dependent luminescent properties of the CDs/CAO phosphors makes them suitable as thermometers with a wide linear temperature sensing range from 80 to 300 K.