Luminescence spectroscopy and electronic structure of Eu3+-doped Bi-containing oxide compounds

The photoluminescence (PL) studies of the set of undoped and doped with Eu3+ ions Bi-containing oxide compounds BiPO4, K3Bi6(PO4)(6), K2Bi(PO4)(MoO4) and K5Bi(MoO4)(4) as well as calculations of their electronic structures were performed. The intrinsic PL of undoped crystals was found under excitation in VUV and UV diapason of light (100-400 nm). The PL spectra possess several main components lying in the blue-green, green-orange and orange-red light diapasons (from 400 up to 850 nm). When Eu ions are incorporated into the crystals, the intrinsic PL diminishes and inner f-f PL of Eu3+ ions becomes dominant. Comparison of the PL excitation spectra with the data of calculated partial density of electronic states allowed distinguishing the role of excitation transitions in bismuth-oxygen polyhedrons (BiO8 or BiO6), phosphate (PO43-) and molybdate (MoO42-) groups. Observed intrinsic PL mainly originates from the excitation transitions in Bi - oxygen polyhedrons followed by the related backward radiation transitions. Very strong excitation energy transfer from bismuth-oxygen polyhedrons to Eu3+ ions was observed for all investigated Eu-doped compounds.