Visible PL phenomenon at room temperature in disordered structure of SrWO4 powder

The SrWO4 (SWO) powders were synthesized by the polymeric precursor method and annealed at different temperatures. The SWO structure was obtained by X-ray diffraction and the corresponding photoluminescence (PL) spectra was measured. The PL results reveal that the structural order–disorder degree in the SWO lattice influences in the PL emission intensity. Only the structurally order–disordered samples present broad and intense PL band in the visible range. To understand the origin of this phenomenon, we performed quantum-mechanical calculations with crystalline and order–disordered SWO periodic models. Their electronic structures were analyzed in terms of band structure. The appearance of localized levels in the band gap of the order–disordered structure was evidenced and is a favorable condition for the intense PL to occur.