Luminescent properties and energy transfer process of Sm3+-Eu3+ co-doped MY2(MoO4)4 (M=Ca, Sr and Ba) red-emitting phosphors

MY2(MoO4)(4): Sm3+ and MY2(MoO4)(4):xSm(3+), yEu(3+) (M = Ca, Sr and Ba) phosphors were successfully prepared using solid-state reaction route, and their luminescent properties and energy transfer process from Sm3+ to Eu3+ were systematically investigated. The results indicate that MY2(MoO4)(4): Sm3+ phosphors can be effectively excited by 407 nm near UV light originating from the H-6(5/2) -> F-4(7/2) transition of Sm3+, and exhibit a satisfactory red emission at 646 nm attributed to the (4)G(5/2)-> H-6(9/2) transition of Sm3+, in which the emission intensity of SrY2(MoO4)(4): Sm3+ is the MY2(MoO4)(4):Sm3+ samples, with increasing Eu3+ doping content, the main emission peaks of Sm3+ (approximately 646 nm) are decreased, but the emission peaks and intensity of Eu3+ are increased while the maximum intensity of luminescence at the Eu3+ concentration 0.9. The introduction of Eu3+ in the MY2(MoO4)(4): Sm3+ phosphors can remarkably generate a strong emission line at 616 nm, originating from the D-5(0)-> F-7(2) transition of Eu3+ and Sm3+ ((4)G(5/2))-> Eu3+ (D-5(0)) effective energy transfer process. The energy transfer mechanism from Sm3+ to Eu3+ was discussed in detail. (C) 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.