Ce3+-Doped garnet phosphors: composition modification, luminescence properties and applications

Defect-Enabled Superior Negative Thermal Quenching in Palmierite Ba9La(VO4)7:Eu3+ for WLED In Situ Temperature Measuring

Negative thermal quenching (NTQ) of the phosphors is critically important for both scientific research and practical applications, but the design of efficient NTQ phosphors is still a challenging task. Herein, we report a new strategy for developing NTQ materials by cation-vacancy engineering. Specifically, a new color-tunable Ba9La1-x(VO4):xEu3+ (BLVO:xEu3+) phosphor with abundant intrinsic cation vacancy was developed, exhibiting superior NTQ behavior under 365 nm excitation. The NTQ performance can be modulated via adjusting Eu3+ doping levels, and the emission intensity of Eu3+ ions in the BLVO:0.20Eu3+ phosphor increased by 275% at 473 K compared to room temperature. Furthermore, the reported material emitting bright white light under 365 nm excitation was well-suited for use in white light-emitting diode (WLED) phosphor and fluorescent temperature sensors, exhibiting outstanding color-rendering index (90.1) in lighting and high sensitivity (Sa = 11.83% K-1, Sr = 2.33% K-1) in temperature detecting. Lastly, the operating temperature of WLED at different currents can be monitored and displayed in real time through emission spectroscopy. All of the results demonstrated that the designed NTQ BLVO:xEu3+ can be used as a single-phase white phosphor and optical thermometry. This work provides a fresh perspective for designing high-efficient NTQ phosphors and expands the application of phosphors in WLED in situ temperature detection.

Full-Visible-Spectrum White LEDs Enabled by a Blue-Light-Excitable Cyan Phosphor

Efficient blue-light-excitable broadband cyan-emitting phosphors may yield full-visible-spectrum white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) with ultrahigh color rendering (Ra > 95). However, this requires closing the "cyan gap" in the 480-520 nm region of the visible spectrum, which is challenging. Herein, a well-performed cyan-emitting garnet phosphor Ca2LuAlGa2Si2O12:Ce3+ (CLAGSO:Ce3+) is reported. Under 430 nm excitation, the optimal CLAGSO:5%Ce3+ compound exhibits a broadband cyan emission (peak, 496 nm; bandwidth, 102 nm) with a high internal quantum efficiency of 85.6% and an excellent thermal resistance performance (69.1% at 423 K). Importantly, this as-prepared cyan-emitting phosphor provides sufficient cyan emission and enables filling the well-known so-called "cyan gap" between the blue LED chip and the commercial Y3Al5O12:Ce3+ (YAG:Ce3+) yellow phosphor. Impressively, a WLED device fabricated with the optimal CLAGSO:5%Ce3+ sample shows a low correlated color temperature (4053 K) and an ultrahigh color rendering index (Ra = 96.6), as well as an excellent luminous efficacy (74.09 lm W-1). These results highlight the importance of blue-excited broadband cyan-emitting phosphors in closing the cyan gap and enabling human-centric full-visible-spectrum warm WLED devices for high-quality solid-state lighting.

Solvent-Controlled Strategy for Color-Tunable Fluorescence Carbon Dots and Their Application in Light-Emitting Diodes

Carbon dots (CDs) offer tremendous advantages in the fields such as bioimaging, sensing, biomedicine, catalysis, information encryption, and optoelectronics. However, the inherent challenge is synthesizing CDs with a full-spectrum emission, as most CDs typically produce only blue or green emissions, which severely hinder further investigation into their fluorescence mechanism and restrict their broader applications in light-emitting diodes (LEDs). In this work, we reported a solvent-controlled strategy for the preparation of multicolor CDs with blue, yellow, and red emissions, using o-phenylenediamine (oPD) and ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BmimPF6) as precursors. The detailed characterizations proved that a solvent with a lower boiling point and lower solubility of precursors resulted in a higher degree of dehydration and carbonization process, thereby increasing carbon cores with sp2-conjugated domains and nitrogen doping and further reducing the bandgap energies, causing a significant redshift emission from blue to red. The underlying fluorescence mechanism of the prepared multicolor CDs was contributed to the surface state. Eventually, blue-, yellow-, and red-emitting CDs based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) films and colorful LEDs devices were fabricated by dispersing the as-synthesized CDs into a PVA solution. The proposed solvent-controlled strategy for multicolor CDs preparation will be helpful for fully utilizing the advantages of CDs and expanding their applications.

Highly efficient circularly polarized electroluminescence based on chiral manganese(ii) complexes

Currently reported circularly polarized luminescent devices are primarily based on rare earth and noble metal complexes or lead perovskite materials. Reports on electroluminescent devices employing eco-friendly luminescent materials are notably scarce. In this study, we strategically designed and synthesized manganese complexes featuring Binapo as the chiral ligand. The complex structure reveals a tetrahedral coordination configuration, with the R/S configurations exhibiting a mirror relationship. Leveraging the strong ligand field and chiral structural characteristics of Binapo, the enantiomers display red emission and exhibit significant circularly polarized luminescence with a circularly polarized luminescence asymmetric factor (g lum) of 5.1 × 10-3. The circularly polarized electroluminescent performance was investigated by using a solution processing method and host-guest doping strategy. Our efforts resulted in device performance with an external quantum efficiency (EQE) exceeding 4%, and its electroluminescent asymmetric factor (g EL) reached an impressive -8.5 × 10-3. This surpasses the performance of most devices relying on platinum (Pt) and iridium (Ir) metal complexes and perovskite related materials. Our work establishes a pathway for the development of cost-effective and environmentally friendly chiral electroluminescent materials and devices.

Pushing Trap-Controlled Persistent Luminescence Materials toward Multi-Responsive Smart Platforms: Recent Advances, Mechanism, and Frontier Applications

Smart stimuli-responsive persistent luminescence materials, combining the various advantages and frontier applications prospects, have gained booming progress in recent years. The trap-controlled property and energy storage capability to respond to external multi-stimulations through diverse luminescence pathways make them attractive in emerging multi-responsive smart platforms. This review aims at the recent advances in trap-controlled luminescence materials for advanced multi-stimuli-responsive smart platforms. The design principles, luminescence mechanisms, and representative stimulations, i.e., thermo-, photo-, mechano-, and X-rays responsiveness, are comprehensively summarized. Various emerging multi-responsive hybrid systems containing trap-controlled luminescence materials are highlighted. Specifically, temperature dependent trapping and de-trapping performance is discussed, from extreme-low temperature to ultra-high temperature conditions. Emerging applications and future perspectives are briefly presented. It is hoped that this review would provide new insights and guidelines for the rational design and performance manipulation of multi-responsive materials for advanced smart platforms.

Three-Layered Composite Scintillator Based on the Epitaxial Structures of YAG and LuAG Garnets Doped with Ce3+ and Sc3+ Impurities

In this study, we propose novel three-layer composite scintillators designed for the simultaneous detection of different ionizing radiation components. These scintillators are based on epitaxial structures of LuAG and YAG garnets, doped with Ce3+ and Sc3+ ions. Samples of these composite scintillators, containing YAG:Ce and LuAG:Ce single crystalline films with different thicknesses and LuAG:Sc single crystal substrates, were grown using the liquid phase epitaxy method from melt solutions based on PbO-B2O3 fluxes. The scintillation properties of the proposed composites, YAG:Ce film/LuAG:Sc film/LuAG:Ce crystal and YAG:Ce film/LuAG:Ce film/LuAG:Sc crystal, were investigated under excitation by radiation with α-particles from a 239Pu source, β-particles from 90Sr sources and γ-rays from a 137Cs source. Considering the properties of the mentioned composite scintillators, special attention was paid to the ability of simultaneous separation of the different components of mixed ionizing radiation containing the mentioned particles and quanta using scintillation decay kinetics. The differences in scintillation decay curves under α- and β-particle and γ-ray excitations were characterized using figure of merit (FOM) values at various scintillation decay intensity levels (1/e, 0.1, 0.05, 0.01).

Optimizations of luminescent materials for white light emitting diodes toward healthy lighting

White light emitting diodes (wLEDs) have been widely used as the green lighting sources. The commercial wLEDs devices are mainly achieved through the combination of blue emission chips and yellow phosphors, which offer advantages of high efficiency and long lifetime. However, the color rendering index (CRI) of traditional wLEDs is low due to the lack of red components. In recent years, with the improvement of the quality of life, a lot of efforts have been paid to improve the performance of wLEDs devices related to CRI, correlated color temperature, light uniformity, luminous flux, etc. In this article, we summarize the recent advances on the optimization of wLEDs toward healthy lighting. Brief introductions on the fundamentals of healthy effect of lighting are presented, followed by discussions of current methods to realize wLEDs devices. Special overviews on strategies for luminescent materials of wLEDs in recent years are presented. The opportunities and challenges in the future development of wLEDs lighting devices are also discussed.

Fluorescence properties of novel deep-red phosphor LiMg4SbO7:Mn4+ with excellent quantum efficiency and color purity for warm white LEDs

Red fluorescent materials have important application value in the background light and LED lighting fields of displays. In this work, a novel type of rare earth free deep-red phosphor LiMg4SbO7:Mn4+ was prepared successfully, and its crystal structure, microstructure, fluorescence spectrum, quantum yield, thermal stability, fluorescence lifetime, color coordinates and color purity were studied in detail. The excitation spectra of LiMg4SbO7:Mn4+ phosphors are located at 200-600 nm, which can be matched with ultraviolet, near-ultraviolet, and blue-light chips. The exciting result is that the LiMg4SbO7:0.002Mn4+ phosphor exhibits astonishing quantum efficiency, thermal stability and color purity. Finally, the developed LiMg4SbO7:Mn4+ and the yellow phosphor Y3Al5O12:Ce3+ (YAG:Ce3+) were mixed and coated on a blue light chip (460 nm) to produce a w-LED, which exhibited warm white luminescence with color coordinates of (0.3575, 0.3809), correlated colour temperature (CCT) of 4687 K, and color rendering index (CRI) of 83.6. It is reasonable to consider that LiMg4SbO7:Mn4+ phosphors with excellent photoluminescence performance have great application value in LED lighting fields.

Ho3+ codoping of GGAG:Ce: a detailed analysis of acceleration of scintillation response and scintillation efficiency loss

In this study, we investigate the effects of Ho3+ codoping on the luminescence and scintillation properties of GGAG:Ce, with a particular focus on timing properties and scintillator efficiency. The research reveals that Ho3+ codoping and subsequent resonant energy transfer from Ce3+ to Ho3+ can significantly reduce the 5d1 excited state decay time of Ce3+ and shorten scintillation pulses of GGAG:Ce registered by using photomultipliers, although this reduces scintillator efficiency as well. The study presents a detailed analysis of the loss of scintillator efficiency due to Ho3+ codoping, identifying the most significant loss pathways and estimating their impact. The findings suggest that Ho3+ codoping is an effective method for accelerating the scintillation response of GGAG:Ce. Furthermore, the study presents a high level of consistency of the Ce3+ kinetics with the Inokuti-Hirayama model and with results obtained in the previous studies on similar systems, demonstrating the predictability of the effect of RE3+ codoping on scintillator properties.

Efficient Energy Transfer for Near-Perfect Quantum Efficiency and Thermal Stability

The pursuit of high-quality phosphors exhibiting swift response to near-ultraviolet (n-UV) excitation, elevated quantum efficiency (QE), superior thermal stability, and impeccable light quality has been a focal point of investigation. In this research, we synthesized a novel K2La2B2O7:Ce3+,Tb3+ (KLBO:Ce3+,Tb3+) color-tunable phosphor that meets these requirements. KLBO:Ce3+ can be stimulated efficiently by the n-UV light and shows an intense blue emission centered at 437 nm. Notably, KLBO:0.04Ce3+ exhibits exceptional internal QE (IQE = 94%) and outstanding thermal stability (I423 K/I303 K = 88%). Optimization of doping compositions enables efficient Ce3+ → Tb3+ energy transfer, resulting in substantial enhancements in QE and thermal stability. Specifically, KLBO:0.04Ce3+,0.28Tb3+ achieves an IQE of 98% and a thermal stability of 97%, higher than those of most phosphors of the same type. White light-emitting diodes fabricated using phosphor samples emit warm white light characterized by high Ra (Ra = 96.6 and 93.4) and low CCT (CCT = 4886 and 4400 K). This study underscores the feasibility of enhancing phosphor QE and thermal stability through energy transfer mechanisms.

Blue Long Afterglow and Ultra Broadband Vis-NIR Emission from All-Inorganic Copper-Doped Silver Halide Single Crystals

All-inorganic metal halides with afterglow emission have attracted increasing attention due to their significantly longer afterglow duration and higher stability compared to their organic-inorganic hybrid counterparts. However, their afterglow colors have not yet reached the blue spectral region. Here, we report all-inorganic copper-doped Rb2AgBr3 single crystals with ultralong blue afterglow (>300 s) by modulating defect states through doping engineering. The introduction of copper(I) ions into Rb2AgBr3 facilitates the formation of bromine vacancies, thus increasing the density of trap states available for charge storage and enabling bright, persistent emission after ceasing the excitation. Moreover, cascade energy transfer between distinct emissive centers in the crystals results in ultra-broadband photoluminescence, not only covering the whole white light with near-unity quantum yield but also extending into the near-infrared region. This 'cocktail' of exotic light-emission properties, in conjunction with the excellent stability of copper-doped Rb2AgBr3 crystals, allowed us to demonstrate their implementation to solid-state lighting, night vision, and intelligent anti-counterfeiting.

Micro-Inclusion Engineering via Sc Incompatibility for Luminescence and Photoconversion Control in Ce3+-Doped Tb3Al5-xScxO12 Garnet

Aluminum garnets display exceptional adaptability in incorporating mismatching elements, thereby facilitating the synthesis of novel materials with tailored properties. This study explored Ce3+-doped Tb3Al5-xScxO12 crystals (where x ranges from 0.5 to 3.0), revealing a novel approach to control luminescence and photoconversion through atomic size mismatch engineering. Raman spectroscopy confirmed the coexistence of garnet and perovskite phases, with Sc substitution significantly influencing the garnet lattice and induced A1g mode softening up to Sc concentration x = 2.0. The Sc atoms controlled sub-eutectic inclusion formation, creating efficient light scattering centers and unveiling a compositional threshold for octahedral site saturation. This modulation enabled the control of energy transfer dynamics between Ce3+ and Tb3+ ions, enhancing luminescence and mitigating quenching. The Sc admixing process regulated luminous efficacy (LE), color rendering index (CRI), and correlated color temperature (CCT), with adjustments in CRI from 68 to 84 and CCT from 3545 K to 12,958 K. The Ce3+-doped Tb3Al5-xScxO12 crystal (where x = 2.0) achieved the highest LE of 114.6 lm/W and emitted light at a CCT of 4942 K, similar to daylight white. This approach enables the design and development of functional materials with tailored optical properties applicable to lighting technology, persistent phosphors, scintillators, and storage phosphors.

Photoluminescence Spectra Correlations with Structural Distortion in Eu3+- and Ce3+-Doped Y3Al5-2x(Mg,Ge)xO12 (x = 0, 1, 2) Garnet Phosphors

Garnet-type materials consisting of Y3Al5-2x(Mg,Ge)xO12 (x = 0, 1, 2), combined with Eu3+ or Ce3+ activator ions, were prepared by a solid-state method to determine the structural and optical correlations. The structure of Y3Al5-2x(Mg,Ge)xO12 (x = 1, 2) was determined to be a cubic unit cell (Ia-3d), which contains an 8-coordinated Y3+ site with octahedral (Mg,Al)O6 and tetrahedral (Al,Ge)O4 polyhedra, using synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction. When Eu3+ or Ce3+ ions were substituted for the Y3+ site in the Y3Al5-2x(Mg,Ge)xO12 host lattices, the emission spectra showed a decrease in the magnetic dipole f-f Eu3+ transition and a redshift of the d-f Ce3+ transition, related to centrosymmetry and crystal field splitting, respectively. These changes were monitored according to the increase in Mg2+ and Ge4+ contents. The dodecahedral and octahedral edge sharing was identified as a key distortion factor for the structure-correlated luminescence in the Eu3+/Ce3+-doped Y3Al5-2x(Mg,Ge)xO12 garnet phosphors.

Study on a Highly Thermostable Dy3+-Activated Borophosphate Phosphor

Constructing a phosphor with multifunctional applications is an imperative challenge. Especially, highly thermostable luminescence of phosphor is indispensable for stable white-light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Nevertheless, good thermal quenching resistance behavior is unfavorable for a fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR)-based optical temperature sensor. Herein, a highly thermostable Ba3(ZnB5O10)PO4 (BZBP)-based phosphor is successfully achieved via replacing Ba2+ with Dy3+, demonstrating simultaneously promising lighting and thermometry utilizations. Under the excitation of 350 nm, the title phosphor only loses 12% of the initial intensity when the temperature is up to 473 K, ensuring sufficient luminescence thermostability for white-LED lighting. The white-LED device fabricated using the title phosphor emits high-quality white light with a high color rendering index (Ra = 93) and low correlated color temperature (CCT = 3996 K). Meanwhile, the yellow and blue emission intensities demonstrate a downtrend difference with rising temperature. Temperature sensing properties are assessed through FIR technology. The maximal relative sensitivity reaches as high as 0.0379 K-1 at 298 K. These results reveal that the title phosphor has a great potential for indoor lighting and thermometry applications.

An efficient blue-violet phosphor: an advanced material designed for high-quality full-spectrum lighting

A highly efficient phosphor with exceptional luminescence properties is crucial for achieving high-quality solid-state white-light illumination. Here, this paper presents a groundbreaking discovery, an innovative blue-violet emitting Ba1.31Sr3.69(BO3)3Cl:Ce3+ (BSBCl:Ce3+) phosphor designed with remarkable thermal stability and quantum efficiency for full spectrum white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs). By employing a high-temperature solid-phase method, we synthesized various BSBCl:xCe3+ phosphors with different Ce3+ doping concentrations. Remarkably, BSBCl:0.03Ce3+ displays a broad excitation band from 250 nm to 400 nm, rendering it compatible with commercial near-ultraviolet (UV) LED chips. Under 330 nm excitation, this phosphor emits blue light with an astonishing 88.2% internal quantum efficiency (IQE) and an impressive 60.9% external quantum efficiency (EQE). Notably, when employed in the temperature range of 298-473 K, the synthesized BSBCl:0.03Ce3+ phosphor exhibits exceptional color stability and thermal stability (I423 K/I298 K = 83%). Utilizing BSBCl:0.03Ce3+ as the blue-violet emitting component in the fabrication of WLED devices has demonstrated significant advancements in the color rendering index. These findings underscore the potential of BSBCl:Ce3+ phosphors for a wide range of applications in health-oriented indoor illumination.

Garnet Structure-Activated Warm White Light Phosphors Ca3Al2Ge3O12: Dy3+, Eu3+ with Ultrahigh Thermal Stability and Tunable Luminescence

A series of Ca3Al2Ge3O12: xDy3+, yEu3+ phosphors were successfully prepared by the high-temperature solid-phase method. The phase and morphology of the phosphors were studied by means of Rietveld refinement and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the phase is pure, and the crystal structure is the Ia3̅d space group. In the Ca3Al2Ge3O12: xDy3+ phosphors, using 380 nm excitation, phosphors showed blue (4F9/2 → 6H15/2) and yellow (4F9/2 → 6H13/2) emission peaks at 481 and 581 nm, respectively. In Ca3Al2Ge3O12: xDy3+, yEu3+ phosphors, the energy transfer was inferred by the spectrum overlap of Dy3+ and Eu3+, and the lifetime attenuation was analyzed from the perspective of dynamics; finally, the band gap structure of the phosphors was analyzed by combining diffuse reflection spectra with the first principle, and the energy transfer mechanism and luminescence mechanism were elaborated by combining theory and practice. The transition from blue white light to red light can be achieved by tuning the range of y in Ca3Al2Ge3O12: 0.015Dy3+, yEu3+. Wherein, when y = 0.07, phosphors, the chromaticity coordinate of warm white CIE is (0.3932, 0.3203), the color temperature is 3093 K, and the warm white light is synthesized. The thermal stability of the synthesized warm white phosphors is 90.1% (423 K), the thermal sensing factors are Samax = 5.51 × 10-4 K-1 (303 K) and Srmax = 0.0359% K-1 (303 K), and the actual quantum efficiency is IQE = 52.48%. These results prove that Ca3Al2Ge3O12: Dy3+, Eu3+ have good application prospects as single-component warm w-LED devices.

Unravelling the interplay of local structure and valence transitions in Ce-doped CaYAlO4 luminescent materials

Cerium has been widely used as a dopant in luminescent materials due to its unique electronic configurations. It is generally anticipated that the luminescence properties of rare-earth-doped materials are closely related to the local environment of activators, especially for Ce3+ . In addition, it is convenient to modulate its emission wavelength by adjusting the composition and structure. In this study, we systematically analyzed the microstructure of the Ce-doped CaYAlO4 system at atomic resolution. The quantitive results indicated that the structure distortion greatly influenced the valence state of the Ce dopant, which is critical to its luminescence efficiency. In addition, valence variations also exist from surface to inner structure due to the big distortion area around the surface. Our results unravel the interplay of local structure and valence transitions in Ce-doped aluminate phosphors, which has the potential to be applied in other luminescent materials.

Fluorescent and Electrochemical Sensor Based on Basic Red 9 Dye Functionalised Graphene Oxide-Montmorillonite Composite for Selective Detection of Cerium (III) Ion

In this work, graphene oxide (GO) has been prepared from used dry cells using modified Hummer's method and encapsulated with montmorillonite clay. To enhance its electrical property, the GO-MMT composite has been functionalised with Basic Red 9 dye. The sensor was characterized by various spectroscopic techniques like FT-IR spectroscopy, PXRD, SEM analysis, etc. Basic Red 9 dye functionalised GO-MMT composite has been employed for fluorescent and electrochemical detection of Ce3+ ion. The fluorescent turn-on sensing is sensitive, reversible and free from interference from other metal ions. The detection of Ce3+ ion by the sensor was also conducted in bovine serum albumin (BSA) medium. Pt electrode modified with the hybrid sensor produces excellent electrochemical change in presence of Ce3+ ion through cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry technique. The limit of detection (LOD) from fluorescence spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry were calculated to be 0.6556 × 10- 9 M, 1.232 × 10- 9 M and 1.923 × 10- 9 M respectively.

Ce3+-Doped Li2Ca5Gd(BO3)5 Phosphors with Multiple Luminescent Centers and High Pressure Sensitivity under Near UV Excitation

The performance of Ce3+-based phosphors under mechanical high pressures becomes attractive due to the potential application as a visual pressure sensor. Li2Ca5Gd(BO3)5 was selected as the host for the Ce3+ doping. Rietveld refinements reveal that rare earth cations occupy M1, M2, and M3 sites, and indeed, the photoluminescent spectra of Li2Ca5Gd1-xCex(BO3)5 (0.005 ≤ x ≤ 0.15) exhibit the characteristic of multiple activators, defined as CeI, CeII, and CeIII, with the maximal emission wavelength at ∼444, 419, and 378 nm, respectively. The optimal internal and external quantum efficiencies are 86.29% for x = 0.005 and 20.26% for x = 0.10, respectively, under the NUV excitation at 363 nm. In-situ high pressure emission spectra under 375 nm excitation exhibit an overall red-shift, and the linear pressure susceptibilities up to 6.7 GPa for CeI and CeII centers are -390 and -279 cm-1/GPa, respectively, which is probably the largest among Ce3+-doped oxides and oxysalts. Due to the above superiorities, Ce3+-doped LCGB possesses a high potential as a visual pressure sensor, and this is a successful study on the structure-property relationship of inorganic materials.

Enhancing the upconversion of Er3+ incorporated BaTiO3 by introducing oxygen vacancies

Lanthanide-incorporated crystals display the phenomenon of upconversion (UC), wherein near-infrared (NIR) light is converted into ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) emission with a narrow bandwidth. This unique photophysical property renders lanthanide UC materials highly promising for diverse applications. However, the limited quantum efficiency (∼3%) hinders the broader utilization of UC materials. Consequently, numerous studies have focused on overcoming this low efficiency. Notably, it has been observed that manipulation of the site symmetry in UC materials significantly enhances their UC efficiency. In this study, we investigate the UC enhancement of Er3+ incorporated BaTiO3 (E-BT) crystals through the introduction of oxygen vacancies (OV). The OV were created using a post-heat treatment method, and the annealing time was varied to control the quantity of OV. An optimal annealing time of 6 hours was determined for efficient OV generation, beyond which the OV content decreased. Remarkably, E-BT crystals with OV exhibited up to three-fold greater UC compared to those without OV. This outcome suggests that OV induce symmetry changes in the E-BT crystal structure. Furthermore, the degree of UC enhancement in E-BT was found to be proportional to the amount of OV present.

Radiation Synthesis of High-Temperature Wide-Bandgap Ceramics

This paper presents the results of ceramic synthesis in the field of a powerful flux of high-energy electrons on powder mixtures. The synthesis is carried out via the direct exposure of the radiation flux to a mixture with high speed (up to 10 g/s) and efficiency without the use of any methods or means for stimulation. These synthesis qualities provide the opportunity to optimize compositions and conditions in a short time while maintaining the purity of the ceramics. The possibility of synthesizing ceramics from powders of metal oxides and fluorides (MgF2, BaF2, WO3, Ga2O3, Al2O3, Y2O3, ZrO2, MgO) and complex compounds from their stoichiometric mixtures (Y3Al3O12, Y3AlxGa(5-x) O12, MgAl2O4, ZnAl2O4, MgWO4, ZnWO4, BaxMg(2-x) F4), including activators, is demonstrated. The ceramics synthesized in the field of high-energy electron flux have a structure and luminescence properties similar to those obtained by other methods, such as thermal methods. The results of studying the processes of energy transfer of the electron beam mixture, quantitative assessments of the distribution of absorbed energy, and the dissipation of this energy are presented. The optimal conditions for beam treatment of the mixture during synthesis are determined. It is shown that the efficiency of radiation synthesis of ceramics depends on the particle dispersion of the initial powders. Powders with particle sizes of 1-10 µm, uniform for the synthesis of ceramics of complex compositions, are optimal. A hypothesis is put forward that ionization processes, resulting in the radiolysis of particles and the exchange of elements in the ion-electron plasma, dominate in the formation of new structural phases during radiation synthesis.

All-Inorganic Green Synthesis of Small-Sized and Efficient K2SiF6:Mn4+ Phosphor for Mini-LED Displays

High-resolution liquid crystal display (LCD) backlight requires a color conversion layer featuring micrometer light-emitting particles and a uniform morphology. The widely used commercial red-emitting K2SiF6:Mn4+ phosphor, showing promise as a light-conversion candidate, faces limitations due to its toxic synthesis process, large particle size, and poor moisture resistance. We successfully demonstrated an efficient substitution of the highly toxic HF/TEOS/KHF2 solvent system with a commonly used HCl/SiO2/KF solvent system to synthesize the small-sized K2SiF6:Mn4+ phosphor. Additionally, surface passivation was performed to enhance the luminescence intensity and resistance to moisture, denoted as K2SiF6:Mn4+@CaF2. Accordingly, the K2SiF6:Mn4+@CaF2 phosphor presents a high luminescence efficiency (99.87%/32.84% IQE/EQE) with an average particle size of ∼2.67 μm. Notably, after exposure to 85% humidity and 85 °C temperature for 3 h, the luminescence intensity remains at 47.4% for K2SiF6:Mn4+@CaF2, while 21.2% for pristine K2SiF6:Mn4+, and only 3.5% for K2SiF6:Mn4+ synthesized by TEOS. These advancements hold great potential for improving high-resolution LCD backlighting, particularly for displays with micron-level pixels, opening up new possibilities for enhanced display technology.

Ce3+-Eu2+ Co-doped BaCa13Mg2(SiO4)8 cyan phosphor-ultra-high energy transfer efficiency for white light emitting diodes

The energy transfer of Ce3+-Eu2+ can often greatly increase the luminescence efficiency and expand the scope of application. In this study, blue to cyan color-tunable phosphors BaCa13Mg2(SiO4)8:Ce3+,Eu2+ were prepared. BaCa13Mg2(SiO4)8:Eu2+ cyan phosphors have limited applications in WLEDs because of their disadvantages, including the inadequate luminescence performance and imperfect matching of UV chips. Therefore, Ce3+ ions were used as sensitizers to enhance the optical performance of Eu2+ ions. The energy transfer efficiency between Ce3+ and Eu2+ in the BaCa13Mg2(SiO4)8 host was calculated to be 96.7%, and the incorporation of Ce3+ ions boosted the integrated intensity and quantum efficiency of the emission spectrum by approximately 80% and 20%, respectively. At 140 °C, the integral emission intensities could still keep at 81.5% of the initial integral intensities at 25 °C. The Ce3+, Eu2+ co-doped cyan phosphor-based WLED lamp could produce outstanding warm white light with CIE coordinates of (0.3722, 0.3222), demonstrating the enormous potential for WLED applications.

Photoluminescence of Mn2+ in the Borosulfate Zn[B2 (SO4 )4 ] : Mn2+ -A Tool to Detect Weak Coordination Behavior of Ligands

The impact of the surrounding ligand field is successfully exploited in the case of Eu2+ to tune the emission characteristics of inorganic photoactive materials with potential application in, e.g., phosphor-converted white light-emitting diodes (pc-wLEDs). However, the photoluminescence of Mn2+ related to intraconfigurational 3d5 -3d5 transitions is also strongly dependent on local ligand field effects and has been underestimated in this regard so far. In this work, we want to revive the idea how to electronically tune the emission color of a transition metal ion in inorganic hosts by unusual electronic effects in the metal-ligand bond. The concept is explicitly demonstrated for the weakly coordinating layer-like borosulfate ligand in the Mn2+ -containing solid solutions Zn1-x Mnx [B2 (SO4 )4 ] (x = 0, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.10). Zn[B2 (SO4 )4 ]:Mn2+ shows orange narrow-band luminescence at 590 nm, which is an unusually short wavelength for octahedrally coordinated Mn2+ and indicates an uncommonly weak ligand field. On the other hand, the analysis of the interelectronic Racah repulsion parameters reveals ionic Mn-O bonds with values close to the Racah parameters of the free Mn2+ ion. Overall, this strategy demonstrates that electronic control of the metal-ligand bond can be a tool to make Mn2+ a potent alternative emitter to Eu2+ for inorganic phosphors.

Ce/Mn/Cr: (Re,Y)3Al5O12 Phosphor Ceramics (Re = Gd, Tb and Lu) for White LED Lighting Significant Spectral Redshift and Improved Color-Rendering Index

In order to attain phosphor ceramics with a high Color-Rendering Index (CRI), samples with the composition of Y0.997-xRexCe0.003)3(Al0.9748 Mn2+0.024Cr3+0.0012)5O12(Rex = 0, Gd0.333, Gd0.666, Gd0.997, Tb0.333, Tb0.666, Tb0.997 and Lu0.997 were prepared by solid-state reaction and vacuum sintering, and exhibited potential for high-quality, solid-state lighting. Doping with Cr3+ and Mn2+ effectively enhanced the red component of Ce3+ spectra through the intense energy transfer from Ce3+ ions to Mn2+/Cr3+ ions. The crystal field splitting of [GdO8] and [TbO8] was more extensive than that of [YO8], causing a massive redshift in the Ce3+ emission peaks from 542 to 561 and 595 nm, while [LuO8] had an opposite effect and caused a blueshift with a peak position at 512 nm. White LED devices incorporating Ce/Mn/Cr: (Gd0.333Y0.664)3Al5O12 phosphor ceramic exhibited a high CRI of 83.97, highlighting the potential for enhancing the red-light component of white LED lighting.

An efficient blue-excitable broadband Y3ScAl4O12:Ce3+ garnet phosphor for WLEDs

Most commercial phosphor-converted white light-emitting diodes (pc-WLEDs) are manufactured with blue LED chips and yellow-emitting Y3Al5O12:Ce3+ (YAG:Ce3+) garnet phosphor, but the lack of blue-green light in the spectrum results in a low color rendering index (CRI). In this paper, we synthesized Y3ScAl4O12:Ce3+ (YSAG:Ce3+) by replacing Al3+ in YAG:Ce3+ with Sc3+. The introduction of Sc3+ with a larger ionic radius through a cation substitution strategy causes lattice expansion, elongation of the Y-O bond, and ultimately a decrease in Ce3+ 5d level crystal field splitting. As a consequence, the emission spectrum undergoes a blue-shift of 10 nm. Furthermore, the YSAG:Ce3+ phosphor exhibits good thermal stability, and its emission intensity at 423 K is about 58% of that at 303 K. Moreover, the analysis of Eu3+ emission spectra demonstrates that the introduction of Sc3+ resulted in a slight reduction of the dodecahedral lattice symmetry. YSAG:Ce3+ effectively compensates for the lack of the blue-green region, and WLEDs with high color rendering index (90.1), low color temperature (4566 K) and high luminous efficiency (133.59 lm W-1) were prepared using the combination of YSAG:0.08Ce3+, CaAlSiN3:Eu2+ and 450 nm blue chips. These findings indicate that YSAG:Ce3+ garnet phosphor has potential to be used in high quality WLEDs.

Exclusive confinement of Bi3+-activators in the triangular prism enabling efficient and thermally stable green emission in the tridymite-type phosphor CaBaGa4O8:Bi3

Recently, Bi3+-activated phosphors have been extensively studied for potential applications in phosphor-converted white light-emitting diodes (pc-WLEDs). However, Bi3+ activators usually exhibit low quantum efficiency and poor thermal stability due to the outermost 6s6p-orbitals of Bi3+ being strongly coupled with the host lattice, inhibiting potential applications. Herein, we rationally design a novel phosphor CaBaGa4O8:Bi3+, which adopts a tridymite-type structure and crystallizes in the space group of Imm2. CaBaGa4O8:Bi3+ presents a bright green light emission peaking at 530 nm with a FWHM narrower than 90 nm. Comprehensive structural and spectroscopic analyses unravelled that Bi3+ emitters were site-selectively incorporated into the triangular prism (Ca2+-site) in CaBaGa4O8:Bi3+ since there exist two distinct crystallographic sites that can accommodate the Bi3+ ions. An excellent luminescence thermal stability of 73% of the ambient temperature photoluminescence intensity can be maintained at 423 K for CaBaGa4O8:0.007Bi3+. Impressively, the quantum efficiency (QE) of CaBaGa4O8:0.007Bi3+ was remarkably improved to 47.2% for CaBaGa4O8:0.007Bi3+,0.03Zn2+via incorporating the Zn2+ compensators without sacrificing the luminescence thermal stability. The high thermal stability and QE of CaBaGa4O8:0.007Bi3+,0.03Zn2+ are superior to most of the Bi3+-activated green-emitting oxide phosphors. The perspective applications in pc-WLEDs for CaBaGa4O8:0.007Bi3+,0.03Zn2+ were also studied by fabricating LED devices.

High-Efficiency Ce3+ Activated Orthorhombic Lanthanide Silicate Blue Phosphors for Plant Growth Lighting

Plant growth can be controlled and freed from natural environmental interference through indoor plant cultivation. Artificial light sources with better quality are required to promote indoor plant growth. In this study, we used a simple high-temperature solid-state reaction to synthesize high-efficiency Ce3+-activated NaGdSiO4 (NGSO) phosphors. X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement were performed to determine the detailed crystal structure of the NGSO:Ce3+ phosphors. The morphology of NGSO:Ce3+ and the elemental state of Ce3+ were measured and analyzed. Under near-ultraviolet (n-UV) light excitation, the Ce3+-activated NGSO phosphors exhibit a broad emission band from 375 to 500 nm, and their emission peaks are at approximately 401 nm. This asymmetrical blue emission band is caused by the spin-allowed 5d → 4f transition of Ce3+ and overlaps well with the blue absorption region of carotenoids and chlorophyll. The temperature-dependent luminescence spectra were utilized to assess the thermal stability of NGSO:Ce3+. The external quantum efficiency (EQE) was measured to be 60.91%, and the internal quantum efficiency (IQE) was measured to be 73.39%. A blue LED device assembled from the NGSO:Ce3+ phosphor has demonstrated the application potential in accelerating plant growth.

The role of lanthanide luminescence in advancing technology

Our society is indebted to the numerous inventors and scientists who helped bring about the incredible technological advances in modern society that we all take for granted. The importance of knowing the history of these inventions is often underestimated, although our reliance on technology is escalating. Lanthanide luminescence has paved the way for many of these inventions, from lighting and displays to medical advancements and telecommunications. Given the significant role of these materials in our daily lives, knowingly or not, their past and present applications are reviewed. A majority of the discussion is devoted to pointing out the benefits of using lanthanides over other luminescent species. We aimed to give a short outlook outlines promising directions for the development of the considered field. This review aims to provide the reader enough content to further appreciate the benefits that these technologies have brought into our lives, with the perspective of travelling among the past and latest advances in lanthanide research, aiming for an even brighter future.

Recent Advances in Light-Conversion Phosphors for Plant Growth and Strategies for the Modulation of Photoluminescence Properties

The advent of greenhouses greatly promoted the development of modern agriculture, which freed plants from regional and seasonal constraints. In plant growth, light plays a key role in plant photosynthesis. The photosynthesis of plants can selectively absorb light, and different light wavelengths result in different plant growth reactions. Currently, light-conversion films and plant-growth LEDs have become two effective ways to improve the efficiency of plant photosynthesis, among which phosphors are the most critical materials. This review begins with a brief introduction of the effects of light on plant growth and the various techniques for promoting plant growth. Next, we review the up-to-date development of phosphors for plant growth and discussed the luminescence centers commonly used in blue, red and far-red phosphors, as well as their photophysical properties. Then, we summarize the advantages of red and blue composite phosphors and their designing strategies. Finally, we describe several strategies for regulating the spectral position of phosphors, broadening the emission spectrum, and improving quantum efficiency and thermal stability. This review may offer a good reference for researchers improving phosphors to become more suitable for plant growth.

Boosting Red Luminescence of Mn4+ in Tantalum Heptafluoride Based on an Ab Initio-Facilitated Sensitizer and Hydrophobic Surface Modification

A narrow-band red-light component is critical to establish high color rendition and a wide color gamut of phosphor-converted white-light-emitting diodes (pc-WLEDs). In this sense, Mn⁴⁺-doped K₂SiF₆ fluoride is the most successful material that has been commercialized. As with K₂SiF₆:Mn⁴⁺ phosphors, Mn⁴⁺-doped tantalum heptafluoride (K₂TaF₇:Mn⁴⁺) fulfills a similar luminescence behavior and has been brought in a promising narrow-band red phosphor. But the limited brightness and low moisture-resistant performances have inevitably blocked its practical application. Herein, we employed the density functional theory (DFT)-based ab initio estimation approach to quickly identify the proper sensitizer by systematically investigating the electronic-band coupling between the several possible sensitizers (Rb, Hf, Zr, Sn, Nb, and Mo) and the luminescent center (Mn). Combined with experimental results, Mo was demonstrated to be the optimal sensitizer, which resulted in a 60% enhancement of the emission. On the side, the moisture sensitivity has been effectively improved via grafting the hydrophobic octadecyltrimethoxysilane (ODTMS) layer on the phosphor surface. Through employing the K₂TaF₇:Mn⁴⁺,Mo⁶⁺@ODTMS composite as a red component, warm WLEDs with good performance were achieved with a correlated color temperature (CCT) of 4352 K, a luminous efficacy (LE) of 90.1 lm/W, and a color rendering index (Ra) of 83.4. In addition, a wide color gamut reaching up to 102.8% of the NTSC 1953 value could be realized. Aging tests at 85 °C and 85% humidity for 120 h on this device manifested that the ODTMS-modified phosphor had much better moisture stability than that of the unmodified one. These studies provided viable tools for optimizing Mn⁴⁺ luminescence in fluoride hosts.

The Optimization of Radiation Synthesis Modes for YAG:Ce Ceramics

Synthesis in the radiation field is a promising direction for the development of materials transformation processes, especially those differing in melting temperature. It has been established that the synthesis of yttrium-aluminum ceramics from yttrium oxides and aluminum metals in the region of a powerful high-energy electron flux is realized in 1 s, without any manifestations that facilitate synthesis, with high productivity. It is assumed that the high rate and efficiency of synthesis are due to processes that are realized with the formation of radicals, short-lived defects formed during the decay of electronic excitations. This article presents descriptions of the energy-transferring processes of an electron stream with energies of 1.4, 2.0, and 2.5 MeV to the initial radiation (mixture) for the production of YAG:Ce ceramics. YAG:Ce (Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce) ceramics samples in the field of electron flux of different energies and power densities were synthesized. The results of a study of the dependence of the morphology, crystal structure, and luminescence properties of the resulting ceramics on the synthesis modes, electron energy, and electron flux power are presented.

Ce3+ Doped Al2O3-YAG Eutectic as an Efficient Light Converter for White LEDs

Ce³⁺ doped Al₂O₃-YAG eutectics were successfully grown by the horizontal directional crystallization method. The crystallization rate of eutectic growth was changed in the 1-7.5 mm/h range at a growth temperature of 1835 ℃. The microstructure of eutectic samples was investigated using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microtomography. The intrinsic morphology of eutectic represents the stripe-like channel structure with a random distribution of the garnet Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (YAG) and Al₂O₃ (sapphire) phases. The content of these phases in the stripes changes in the 52.9-55.3% and 46.1-47.1% ratios, respectively, depending on the growth rate of the crystallization of the eutectic samples. The luminescent properties of the eutectic demonstrated the dominant Ce³⁺ luminescence in the garnet phase. The luminescence of the Ce³⁺ ions in Al₂O₃ has also been observed and the effective energy transfer processes between Ce³⁺ ions in the Al₂O₃ and YAG garnet phases were revealed under high-energy excitation and excitation in the UV Ce³⁺ absorption bands of sapphire. The phosphor conversion properties and the color characteristics (Al₂O₃-YAG):Ce eutectic with different thicknesses were investigated under excitation by a blue LED. We have also tested the prototypes of white LEDs, prepared using a blue 450 nm LED chip and (Al₂O₃-YAG):Ce eutectic photoconverters with 0.15 to 1 mm thicknesses. The results of the tests are promising and can be used for the creation of photoconverters for high-power white LEDs.

Polymorphism and polymorph-dependent luminescence properties of the first lithium oxonitridolithosilicate Li3SiNO2:Eu2

Building on studies of monoclinic Li₃SiNO₂, a polymorph, β-Li₃SiNO₂, with a previously unknown structure type was synthesized. The β-phase crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbca (no. 61) with lattice parameters of a = 18.736(2), b = 11.1267(5), c = 5.0897(3) Å, and a cell volume of V = 1057.2(1) ų. Using high-temperature solid-state reactions in sealed tantalum tubes, it was possible to obtain high purity samples (<5 wt% of side phase LiSi₂N₃ according to Rietveld analysis) containing exclusively one or the other polymorph, depending solely on the cooling rate. In contrast to the monoclinic phase, orthorhombic β-Li₃SiNO₂ additionally contains a third layer and shows a layer-sequence of the type ABCB. Doped with the activator ion Eu²⁺, the new polymorph exhibits an intense yellow emission (λ_max = 586 nm, fwhm = 89 nm, 0.33 eV, 2650 cm^-1) under irradiation with UV to blue light. Hence, the structural difference between the two polymorphs goes along with a significant blue-shift of 16 nm. The results from single-crystal diffraction and single-grain luminescence measurements were confirmed by Rietveld analysis of bulk samples and powder luminescence data.

Multimodal Luminescent Low-Dimension Cs2ZrCl6:xSb3+ Crystals for White Light-Emitting Diodes and Information Encryption

Low-dimension perovskite materials have attracted wide attention due to their excellent optical properties and stability. Herein, Sb³⁺-doped Cs₂ZrCl₆ crystals are synthesized by a coprecipitation method in which Sb³⁺ ions partially replace Zr⁴⁺ ions. The Cs₂ZrCl₆:xSb³⁺ powder shows blue and orange-red emissions under a 254 and 365 nm light, respectively, due to the [ZrCl₆]^2- octahedron and [SbCl₆]^3- octahedron. The photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of Cs₂ZrCl₆:xSb³⁺ (x = 0.1) crystals is up to 52.5%. According to experimental and computational results, the emission mechanism of the Cs₂ZrCl₆:xSb³⁺ crystals is proposed. On the one hand, a wide blue emission with a large Stokes shift is caused by the self-trapping excitons of [ZrCl₆]^2- octahedra under a 260 nm excitation. On the other hand, the luminescence mechanism of [SbCl₆]^3- octahedron is divided into two parts: ¹P₁ → ¹S₀ (490 nm) and ³P₁ → ¹S₀ (625 nm). The broad-band emission, high PLQY, and excellent stability endow the Cs₂ZrCl₆:xSb³⁺ powders with the potential for the fabrication of white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs). A WLED device is fabricated using a commercial 310 nm NUV chip, which shows a high color rendering index of 89.7 and a correlated color temperature of 5333 K. In addition, the synthesized Cs₂ZrCl₆:xSb³⁺ crystals can be also successfully used for information encryption. Our work will provide a deep understanding of the photophysical properties of Sb³⁺-doped perovskites and facilitate the development of Cs₂ZrCl₆:xSb³⁺ crystals in encrypting multilevel optical codes and WLEDs.

Study of thermoluminescence, photoluminescence and dosimetry for the YAGG:Ce (Y2.96Al3.4Ga1.6O12:0.04Ce) phosphor

The comprehensive effect of ionizing radiation should be considered in the use and or analysis of certain electronic equipment. Fluorescent powders are widely used in electronic equipment, so they are attempted to be used as thermoluminescence (TL) dosimeter directly. Green YAGG:Ce phosphors were prepared by a high-temperature solid-state reaction method. The TL glow curves, TL dose response, TL three-dimensional (3D) spectra (80 K-800 K) and photoluminescence spectra for the phosphors were measured. The measurement results show that the luminescence peak temperature for the sample occurs at approximately 458 K and the luminescence peak temperatures in the TL 3D spectra are located at 130 K, 240 K and 458 K; there are four kinds of activation energies of traps in the material; the TL response of each component for the YAGG:Ce phosphor shows good linearity and the detection sensitivity of the phosphor is estimated to be less than 2 mGy. TL 3D spectra and PL spectra show that the luminescence from the phosphors arises from the ²D_3/2 → ²F_5/2,7/2 transition of Ce ions, and the TL 3D spectra at 130 K, 240 K and 458 K are almost the same, which proves that the temperature can hardly change the relative probability of the ²D_3/2 → ²F_5/2,7/2 transitions. The results show that YAGG:Ce could be used as dosimeter material.

Development of Three-Layered Composite Color Converters for White LEDs Based on the Epitaxial Structures of YAG:Ce, TbAG:Ce and LuAG:Ce Garnets

This work was dedicated to the development of novel types of composite phosphor converters of white LED, based on the epitaxial structures containing Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce (YAG:Ce) and Tb₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce (TbAG:Ce) single crystalline films, steeply grown, using the liquid-phase epitaxy method, onto LuAG:Ce single crystal substrates. The influence of Ce³⁺ concentration in the LuAG:Ce substrate, as well as the thickness of the subsequent YAG:Ce and TbAG:Ce films, on the luminescence and photoconversion properties of the three-layered composite converters were investigated. Compared to its traditional YAG:Ce counterpart, the developed composite converter demonstrates broadened emission bands, due to the compensation of the cyan-green dip by the additional LuAG:Ce substrate luminescence, along with yellow-orange luminescence from the YAG:Ce and TbAG:Ce films. Such a combination of emission bands from various crystalline garnet compounds allows the production of a wide emission spectrum of WLEDs. In turn, the variation in the thickness and activator concentration in each part of the composite converter allows the production of almost any shade from green to orange emission on the chromaticity diagram.

Up-conversion emission in transition metal and lanthanide co-doped systems: dimer sensitization revisited

Lanthanide (Ln) co-doped transition metal (TM) upconversion (UC) co-doped systems are being intensively investigated for their exciting applications in photonics, bioimaging, and luminescence thermometry. The presence of TM, such as Mo6 + /W6 +, Mn2 +, or Fe3 + determines significant changes in Ln UC emission, such as intensity enhancement, colour modulation, and even the alteration of the photon order. The current mechanism assumes a ground-state absorption/excited-state absorption (ESA/GSA) in TM-Yb dimer followed by direct energy transfer to Er/Tm excited states. We revisit this mechanism by addressing two issues that remain ignored: a dynamical approach to the investigation of the upconversion mechanism and the intrinsic chemical complexity of co-doped TM, Ln systems. To this aim, we employ a pulsed, excitation variable laser across a complete set of UC measurements, such as the emission and excitation spectra and emission decays and analyze multiple grains with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In the Mo co-doped garnet, the results sustain the co-existence of Mo-free garnet and Mo oxide impurity. In this Mo oxide, the Er upconversion emission properties are fully explained by a relatively efficient sequential Yb to Er upconversion process, with no contribution from Yb-Mo dimer sensitization.

Viewing Aggregation-Induced Emission of Metal Nanoclusters from Design Strategies to Applications

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-type metal nanoclusters (NCs) represent an innovative type of luminescent metal NCs whose aggregates exhibit superior performance over that of individuals, attracting wide attention over the past decade. Here, we give a concise overview of the progress made in this area, from design strategies to applications. The representative design strategies, including solvent-induction, cation-induction, crystallization-induction, pH-induction, ligand inheritance, surface constraint, and minerals- and MOF-confinement, are first discussed. We then present the typical practical applications of AIE-type metal NCs in the various sectors of bioimaging, biological diagnosis and therapy (e.g., antibacterial agents, cancer radiotherapy), light-emitting diodes (LEDs), detection assays, and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL). To this end, we present our viewpoints on the promises and challenges of AIE-type metal NCs, which may shed light on the design of highly luminescent metal NCs, stimulating new vitality and serving as a continuous boom for the metal NC community in the future.

Structure and Luminescence Studies of a Ce3+-Activated Ba5La3MgAl3O15 Green-Emitting Phosphor

Novel green-emitting Ba₅La₃MgAl₃O₁₅:Ce³⁺ (BLMAO:Ce³⁺) is successfully obtained by a solid-state reaction. In this study, BLMAO, which is inspired from the Ba₆La₂A_1.5Fe_2.5O₁₅ crystal structure, shows a green emission approximately peaked around 500 nm under near-ultraviolet light excitation at 412 nm by Ce³⁺ doping. Moreover, internal and external quantum efficiencies of BLMAO:0.02Ce³⁺ are found to be 27 and 22%, respectively. The emission peak deconvolution and Dorenbos model calculation reveal that the Ce³⁺ ion occupies on two different crystallographic sites. The potential of BLMAO:Ce³⁺ for phosphor-converted white LEDs (pc-wLEDs) is systematically evaluated from the results of Rietveld refinement and luminescence measurement.

Spark plasma sintering of MgAl2O4:Mn2+ transparent ceramic phosphors with low thermal quenching, narrow-band green emission

MgAl₂O₄:Mn²⁺ transparent ceramics were fabricated by reactive spark plasma sintering (SPS). The ceramic samples show narrow-band green emission under the 450 nm blue light excitation, which is corresponding to ⁴T₁(⁴G)-⁶A₁(⁶S) transition of Mn²⁺ in the tetrahedral site. The emission peak of the Mg_0.93Al₂O₄:0.07Mn²⁺ ceramic sample was located at 525 nm with the full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) value of 36 nm. The internal quantum yield (IQY) of Mg_0.93Al₂O₄:0.07Mn²⁺ reached 63%. The emission intensity remained ∼98% at 150 °C compared to its initial value at room temperature, showing excellent thermal quenching performance. The results indicated that MgAl₂O₄:Mn²⁺ ceramic phosphor is a promising candidate for high brightness, wide gamut display backlight applications.

Excitation-Dependent Tunable White Light of ns2 Ions Doped Rb2SnCl6 Vacancy Ordered Double Perovskite

Single-matrix white light-emitting diodes are still a challenge. Achieving tunable white light emission from lead-free perovskites attracts much attention. Herein, nanoscale Rb₂SnCl₆ (RSC) vacancy ordered double perovskite were synthesized by an optimized precipitation method. Further, using ns² ions (Bi³⁺, Te⁴⁺, and Sb³⁺) doped RSC vacancy ordered double perovskite to obtain broadband blue, yellow-green, and orange-red emission. The color temperature adjustable high-quality white light emission based on the codoping strategy is obtained by controlling the doping ratio of Bi³⁺ and Te⁴⁺. Additionally, the white light-emitting diodes encapsulated by this single matrix white luminescent material exhibit excellent stability. Combined with theoretical calculations, it is elucidated that these high-efficiency emissions are not only derived from the unique electronic transition of ns² ions but also related to the energy band properties and the crystal field. This work shows that ns² ions doped RSC vacancy ordered double perovskite can meet the needs of different luminous colors and color temperature tunable white light emission. Meanwhile, it is a strong competitor to replace the lead-based perovskite.

Recent Developments of Microscopic Study for Lanthanide and Manganese Doped Luminescent Materials

Luminescent materials are indispensable for applications in lighting, displays and photovoltaics, which can transfer, absorb, store and utilize light energy. Their performance is closely related with their size and morphologies, exact atomic arrangement, and local configuration about photofunctional centers. Advanced electron microscopy-based techniques have enabled the possibility to study nanostructures with atomic resolution. Especially, with the advanced micro-electro-mechanical systems, it is able to characterize the luminescent materials at the atomic scale under various environments, providing a deep understanding of the luminescent mechanism. Accordingly, this review summarizes the recent achievements of microscopic study to directly image the microstructure and local environment of activators in lanthanide and manganese (Ln/Mn²⁺ )-doped luminescent materials, including: 1) bulk materials, the typical systems are nitride/oxynitride phosphors; and 2) nanomaterials, such as nanocrystals (hexagonal-phase NaLnF₄ and perovskite) and 2D nanosheets (Ca₂ Ta₃ O₁₀ and MoS₂ ). Finally, the challenges and limitations are highlighted, and some possible solutions to facilitate the developments of advanced luminescent materials are provided.