ABSTRACT
ß-Ca3(PO4)2-type phosphors Ca9-xMnxEu(PO4)7 have been synthesized by high-temperature solid-phase reactions. The crystal structure of Ca8MnEu(PO4)7 was characterized by synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The phase transitions, magnetic and photoluminescence (PL) properties were studied. The abnormal reduction Eu3+ â Eu2+ in air was observed in Ca9-xMnxEu(PO4)7 according to PL spectra study and confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Eu3+ shows partial reduction and coexistence of Eu2+/3+ states. It reflects in combination of a broad band from the Eu2+ 4f65d1 â 4f7 transition and a series of sharp lines attributed to 5D0 â 7FJ transitions of Eu3+. Eu2+/Eu3+ ions are redistributed among two crystal sites, M1 and M3, while Mn2+ fully occupies octahedral site M5 in Ca8MnEu(PO4)7. The main emission band was attributed to the 5D0 â 7F2 electric dipole transition of Eu3+ at 395 nm excitation. The abnormal quenching of Eu3+ emission was observed in Ca9-xMnxEu(PO4)7 phosphors with doping of the host by Mn2+ ions. The phenomena of abnormal reduction and quenching were discussed in detail.
ABSTRACT
A new series of Sr-based phosphates, Sr9-xMnxEu(PO4)7, were synthesized using the high-temperature solid-state method in air. It was found that these compounds have the same structure as strontiowhitlockite, which is a ß-Ca3(PO4)2 (or ß-TCP) structure. The concentration of Mn2+ ions required to form a pure strontiowhitlockite phase was determined. An unusual partial reduction of Eu3+ to Eu2+ in air was observed and confirmed by photoluminescence (PL) and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra measurements. The PL spectra recorded under 370 nm excitation showed transitions of both 4f5d-4f Eu2+ and 4f-4f Eu3+. The total integral intensity of the PL spectra, monitored at 395 nm, decreased with increasing Mn2+ concentration due to quenching effect of Eu3+ by the Mn2+ levels. The temperature dependence of Eu2+ photoluminescence in a Sr9-xMnxEu(PO4)7 host was investigated. The conditions for the reduction of Eu3+ to Eu2+ in air were discussed.
