Synthesis and two-color emission properties of BaGd2(MoO4)4:Eu3+,Er3+,Yb3+ phosphors

Eu3+, Er3+ and Yb3+ co-doped BaGd2(MoO4)4 two-color emission phosphor was synthesized by the high temperature solid-state method. The structure of the sample was characterized by XRD, and its luminescence properties were investigated in detail. Under the excitation of 395 nm ultraviolet light, the BaGd2(MoO4)(4):Eu3+,Er3+,Yb3+ phosphor emitted an intense red light at 595 and 614 nm, which can be attributed to D-5(0) -> F-7(1) and D-5(0) -> F-7(2) transitions of Eu3', respectively. The phosphor will also show bright green light under 980 nm infrared light excitation. The green emission peaks centred at 529 and 552 nm, were attributed to H-4(11/2) -> I-4(15/2) and S-4(3/2) -> I-4(15/2) transitions of Er, respectively. It indicated that the two-color emission can be achieved from the same BaGd2(MoO4)(4):Eu3+,Er3+,Yb3+ host system based on the different pumping source, 395 nm UV light and 980 nm infrared light, respectively. The obtained results showed that this kind of phosphor may be potential in the field of multi-color fluorescence imaging and anti-counterfeiting. Crown Copyright (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.