For the first time, a new langbeinite‐type phosphate, namely potassium terbium tantalum tris(phosphate), K2Tb1.5Ta0.5(PO4)3, has been prepared successfully using a high‐temperature flux method and has been structurally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The results show that its structure can be described as a three‐dimensional open framework of [Tb1.5Ta0.5(PO4)3]∞ interconnected by K+ ions. The TbIII and TaV cations in the structure are disordered and occupy the same crystallographic sites. The IR spectrum, the UV–Vis spectrum, the morphology and the Eu3+‐activated photoluminescence spectroscopic properties were studied. A series of Eu3+‐doped phosphors, i.e. K2Tb1.5–xTa0.5(PO4)3:xEu3+ (x = 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, 0.07, 0.10), were prepared via a solid‐state reaction and the photoluminescence properties were studied. The results show that under near‐UV excitation, the luminescence colour can be tuned from green through yellow to red by simply adjusting the Eu3+ concentration from 0 to 0.1, because of the efficient Tb3+→Eu3+ energy‐transfer mechanism.
A new tantalum phosphate, tridecasodium distrontium ditantalum nonaphosphate, NaSrTa(PO), was prepared using the high-temperature flux method. The structure can be described as a three-dimensional open framework containing isolated [Ta(PO)] units that are interlocked by Na and Sr ions. Band structure studies by the first-principles method revealed that NaSrTa(PO) is an insulator with an indirect band gap of 4.78 eV, which makes it suitable as a luminescent host matrix. A series of solid solutions, i.e. NaSrTa(PO):xDy (x = 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.1, 0.12 and 0.14), were prepared and their photoluminescence properties studied. Under 350 nm light excitation, these emit two typical emissions of the Dy ion, i.e. the F→H transition centred at 476 nm and the F→H transition centred at 570 nm.
A new caesium sodium samarium borate phosphate, CsNa2Sm2(BO3)(PO4)2, has been obtained successfully by the high-temperature solution growth (HTSG) method and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that it crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm. The structure contains BO3, PO4, NaO7 and SmO7 polyhedra which are interconnected via corner- or edge-sharing O atoms to form a three-dimensional [Na2Sm2(BO3)(PO4)2]∞ network. This network delimits large cavities where large Cs+ cations reside to form the total structure. Under 402 nm light excitation, CsNa2Sm2(BO3)(PO4)2 exhibits three emission bands due to the 4f→4f transitions of Sm3+. Furthermore, we introduced Gd3+ into Sm3+ sites to optimize the Sm3+ concentration and improve the luminescence intensity. The optimal concentration is Gd/Sm = 98/2. The luminescent lifetime of a series of CsNa2Gd2(1–x)Sm2x
(BO3)(PO4)2 phosphors shows a gradual degradation of lifetime from 2.196 to 0.872 ms for x = 0.01–0.10. The Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) 1931 calculation reveals that CsNa2Gd1.96Sm0.04(BO3)(PO4)2 can emit orange light under 402 nm excitation.
An anhydrous orthophosphate, K3Eu5(PO4)6 (tripotassium pentaeuropium hexaphosphate), has been prepared by a high‐temperature solid‐state reaction combined with hydrothermal synthesis, and its crystal structure was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis (SC‐XRD). The results show that the compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c and the structure features a three‐dimensional framework of [Eu5(PO4)6]∞, with the tunnel filled by K+ ions. The IR spectrum, UV–Vis spectrum and luminescence properties of polycrystalline samples of K3Eu5(PO4)6, annealed at temperatures of 650, 700, 750, 800 and 850 °C, were investigated. Although with a full Eu3+ concentration (9.96 × 1021 ions cm−3), the self‐activated phosphor K3Eu5(PO4)6 shows s strong luminescence emission intensity with a quantum yield of 37%. Under near‐UV light excitation (393 nm), the series of samples shows the characteristic emissions of Eu3+ ions in the visible region from 575 to 715 nm. The sample sintered at 800 °C gives the strongest emission and its lifetime sintered at 800 °C (1.88 ms) is also the longest of all.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.