Photoluminescence properties of Eu-doped WO3-Eu2(WO4)3 composites and single-phase Eu2(WO4)3 powders

Abstract The development of highly stable and efficient oxide-based red phosphors is urgently required for next-generation lighting devices. Herein, we report the micro/crystal structures and luminescent properties of single-phase Eu2(WO4)3 and Eu3+-doped WO3-Eu2(WO4)3 composite phosphors prepared by a one-step conventional solid-state reaction method in air atmosphere. As increasing Eu contents in the mixtures of WO3 and Eu2O3, the intensities of the X-ray diffraction peaks of Eu2(WO4)3 increased while that of WO3 decreased. The photoluminescence intensity of the synthesized phosphors increased with increase in the Eu content when calcined at 900 °C, while it degraded at a higher temperature. Red-emitting single-phase Eu2(WO4)3 powders were successfully obtained when the WO3 and Eu2O3 powders were calcined in the ratio of 3:1. The intensity of the red emission spectra of the Eu2(WO4)3 phosphor was higher than those of the 6, 12, and 24 at.% Eu-added WO3 composites at excitation wavelengths of 394 and 465 nm. On the other hand, the intensity of emission from the single-phase phosphor was lower than that of the Eu-doped WO3-Eu2(WO4)3 composites under excitation of UV light at 254 nm. Thus, we propose two prospective phosphors for application as red phosphors at various wavelengths.