Synthesis and Optical Properties of Novel Red-Emitting PbNb2O6: Eu(3+) Phosphors.

Undoped and PbNb2O6:Eu(3+) (1.0 ≤ x ≤ 6.0 mol%) phosphors were synthesized at 1100 °C for 3.5 h by the conventional solid state reaction method. Synthesized PbNb2O6:Eu(3+) phosphors were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and Photoluminescence (PL) analyses. The PL spectra showed series of excitation peaks between 350 and 430 nm due to the 4f-4f transitions of Eu(3+). For 395.0 nm excitation, emission spectra of Eu(3+) doped samples were observed at 591 nm (orange) and 614 nm (red) due to the (5)D0 → (7)F1 transitions and (5)D0 → (7)F2 transitions, respectively. PL analysis results also showed that the emission intensity increased by increasing Eu(3+) ion content. No concentration quenching effect was observed. The CIE chromaticity color coordinates (x,y) of the PbNb2O6:Eu(3+) phosphors were found to be in the red region of the chromaticity diagram.