Host-sensitized color-tunable luminescence properties of self-activated and Eu3+-doped Ca3LiZnV3O12 phosphors

Self-activated and Eu3+-doped vanadate phosphors Ca3LiZnV3O12 were synthesized via the solid-state reaction route. The corresponding crystal structure, luminescence properties, energy transfer process and thermal stability were investigated. Ca3LiZnV3O12 can be effectively excited by 340 nm near-ultraviolet light, and exhibits self-activated broadband cyan emission. Sensitized Eu3+ red emissions were obtained in Ca3LiZnV3O12:Eu3+, where VO43- groups acted as sensitizers by absorbing near ultraviolet photons and transferring them to Eu3+ by energy transfer process. The emitting of Ca3LiZnV3O12: Eu3+ could vary from cyan (0.264, 0.364) through white (0.389, 0.366) and to orange (0.494, 0.360) by controlling Eu3+ concentration. All the results indicate that self activated and Eu3+-doped Ca3LiZnV3O12 could be potential candidate as UV-excited color-tunable phosphors.