Synthesis and Luminescence Properties of Multicolor Tunable ZnNb₂O₆: Dy³⁺, Eu³⁺ Phosphors Based on Energy Transfer

In order to study new rare earth ion doped chromaticity phosphors, a color-tunable phosphor based on Dy³⁺/Eu³⁺ co-doped ZnNb₂O₆ were synthesized by a traditional solid-state reaction method. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), photoluminescence spectra and decay curves were utilized to characterize the as-prepared phosphors. The ZnNb₂O₆ host was proved to be a self-activated phosphor with broad absorption range from 200 to 550 nm. The color coordinate (x, y) values of ZnNb₂O₆: 0.08Dy³⁺ and ZnNb₂O₆: 0.08Dy³⁺, 0.03Eu³⁺ phosphors were already very close to the standard white light (0.33, 0.33). Therefore, Dy³⁺ was selected as the sensitizer ion and red component from Eu³⁺ adjusted to control the emission color. The energy transfer from Dy³⁺ to Eu³⁺ was confirmed based on the luminescence spectra and decay curves. Furthermore, the energy transfer mechanism was deduced to be the dipole-quadrupole interaction. In general, the ZnNb₂O₆: 0.08Dy³⁺, yEu³⁺ phosphors obtained may have potential application in the ultraviolet pumped white light sources and display devices etc.