Zero-Thermal Quenching of Mn2+ Red Luminescence via Efficient Energy Transfer from Eu2+ in BaMgP2O7

Mn2+-activated phosphors usually show green to red luminescence depending on the crystal field strength in the lattice. However, the severe intensity loss of Mn2+ luminescence at elevated temperatures remains to be a serious problem. Here, the observation of zero-thermal quenching of Mn2+ red luminescence (lambda(em) = 620 nm) up to 500 K in Eu2+, Mn2+-codoped BaMgP2O7 is reported. This phenomenon arises from an efficient energy transfer from sensitizers Eu2+ which, when singly doped, exhibits a substantial thermal-induced enhancement of 5d -> 4f emission intensity at 400 nm, along with a high luminescence efficiency and a large UV light absorption capacity. The present results open up a new path to the exploration of Eu2+, Mn2+-codoped materials for thermally stable red phosphors.