Synthesis and luminescent properties of a novel bluish-white afterglow phosphor, b-Zn3(PO4)2:Hf4+.

A new bluish-white long-lasting phosphorescent material, Hf4+-doped b-Zn3(PO4)2, was prepared by the conventional high-temperature solid-state method. The photoluminescence (PL) spectrum reveals that it exhibits a strong blue emission band centred at 470 nm, with asymmetry on the long wavelength side; this material emits bluish-white light and shows strong afterglow phosphorescence after it is excited with a 254 nm UV lamp. The phosphorescence lasts nearly 40 min in the light perception of the dark-adapted human eye (0.32 mcd/m(2)). The possible phosphorescence mechanism is also analysed. (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.