Multicolor bright Ln3+ (Ln = Eu, Dy, Sm) activated tungstate phosphor for multifunctional applications

A series of multifunctional phosphors Y2WO6: Ln(3+) (Ln = Eu, Sm, Dy) were prepared by solid state reaction. The phase purity, luminescent properties and energy transfer from WO66- to Ln(3+) are investigated by the X-ray diffractometer, photoluminescence and cathodoluminescence spectra, as well as decay lifetimes, respectively. The band gap of Y2WO6 is calculated to be about 3.139 eV, in agreement with the value of 3.184 eV obtained from the reflection spectrum. When excited by vacuum ultra violet light at 147 nm, the emission intensity of Y2WO6: Eu3+ can reach 66% of that of commercial (Y, Gd)BO3: Eu3+ (KX-504A), and Y2WO6: Dy3+ and Y2WO6: Sm3+ show white light emission. The white light emission can also be obtained under ultraviolet excitation at 319 nm. Under the electron beam excitation, the Y2WO6: Sm3+, Y2WO6: Dy3+ and Y2WO6: Eu3+ show tunable white, blue and red emissions with excellent degradation properties, respectively. These results reveal that the Y2WO6: Eu3+, Y2WO6: Sm3+ and Y2WO6: Dy3+ may have potential applications in three-dimensional plasma display panels, light-emitting diodes and field emission displays. (C) 2013 Optical Society of America