Exploratory Research Of The Rare-earth-based Oxide Quantum Cutting Phosphors

Recently, quantum cutting phosphors have been extensively researched for their appliacation in PDPs, Mercury free lamps and Solar cells. As we all know, Fluorides with a wide bandgap are always the best candidates for investigating quantum cutting (QC), unfortunately, they are toxic and easily oxidized, which would influence their luminescence properties and limit their application. And now, more and more attentions have been paid to QC in oxide and oxysalt for their good luminescence properties under VUV excitation. In the present work, the phenomena of energy transfer between ions pairs and quantum cutting in oxysalts doped with different rare-earth ions have been investigated. The content of this paper includes:1. BaGdB9O16:xTb3+(0≤x≤0.30) were prepared by solid state reaction method and their photoluminescence properties were investigated under ultra-violet (UV) and vacuum ultra-violet (VUV) excitation. And visible quantum cutting have been demonstrated in BaGdB9O16:Tb3+ through two-step energy transfer between Gd3+ and Tb3+. The maximal quantum efficiency could reach 161.3%. This phenomenon indicated that the phosphors BaGdB9O16:Tb3+ could be potentially applied in PDPs and Mercury free lamps.2. BaGdB9O16:0.01Eu3+, xNd3+(0≤x≤0.5) were prepared by solid state reaction method and their photoluminescence properties were investigated in UV and near-infrared (NIR) region. And near-infrared quantum cutting have been demonstrated in BaGdB9O16:Eu3+, Nd3+ through two-step energy transfer of Eu3+-Nd3+ ions couple. The maximal quantum efficiency could reach 162.9%. This phenomenon indicated that the phosphors BaGdB9O16:Eu3+, Nd3+ could be potentially applied in solar cells.3. YVO4:0.01Dy3+, xYb3+(0≤x≤0.3) were prepared by hydrothermal method and their photoluminescence properties were investigated in UV and NIR region. And near-infrared quantum cutting have been demonstrated in YVO4:Dy3+, Yb3+ through cooperative energy transfer between Dy3+ and Yb3+. The maximal quantum efficiency could reach 155.7%. This phenomenon indicated that the phosphors YVO4:Dy3+ Yb3+ could be potentially applied in solar cells.4. YVO4:Eu3+, YVO4:Tm3+ and YVO4:Tm3+, Eu3+ were prepared by hydrothermal method and their photoluminescence properties were investigated in UV and VUV excitation. It was found that the small amount of Tm3+ could enhance the red emission of Eu3+ in YVO4:Tm3+, Eu3+. The energy transfer in VO4--Tm3+-Eu3+ have been demonstrated occur in YVO4:Tm3+, Eu3+. And the write light emissions have been obtained YVO4:Tm3+, Eu3+ nanophosphor. This phenomenon indicated that the phosphors YVO4:Tm3+, Eu3+ could be potentially applied in PDPs and Mercury free lamps.5. M and M'type GdTaO4:xTb3+(0≤x≤0.2) were prepared by solid state reaction method and their photoluminescence properties were investigated under UV and VUV excitation. The emission intensity of M type GdTaO4:0.10Tb3+ and M'type GdTaO4: 0.05Tb3+ could reach 67% and 85% of that in ZnSiO4:Mn2+, respectively. The good luminescence properties indicated that the phosphors M and M'type GdTaO4:Tb3+ could be potentially applied in PDPs and Mercury free lamps.