Synthesis and luminescent properties of Y6W2O15:Eu3+ phosphors

In this paper, a novel phosphor, Y6W2O15:Eu3+ was synthesized by thermal decomposition and phase transition of its decatungstate gel precursor. With stepwise increase of temperature to 750 °C, a crystalline phase of Y6W2O15:Eu3+forms that gives intense red emission when excited at 466 nm, the emission is attributed to the Eu3+ ions transitions from 5D0 excited states to 7FJ (J=0–4) ground states. The long excitation wavelength proves the Eu3+ transition follows the photoexcitation of the oxygen–metal (O→W lmct) charge transfer bands in yttrium tungstate. Some structural information regarding Y6W2O15 provided by luminescence is in accord with that characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The long-wavelength excitation properties of this material may find application in the production of red phosphors for white light-emitting diodes (LEDs).