Synthesis, energy transfer and tunable emission properties of SrSb2O6:Eu(3+), Bi(3+) phosphor.

Host SrSb2O6, SrSb2O6:Bi(3+), SrSb2O6:Eu(3+), and SrSb2O6:Eu(3+), Bi(3+) phosphors are synthesized by solid state reaction method in air. Host SrSb2O6 with excitation 254nm shows weak green-yellow emission in the range of 320-780nm due to Sb(5+)→O(2-) transition. SrSb2O6:Bi(3+) phosphor with excitation 365nm emits green light within the range 400-650nm owing to the (3)P1→(1)S0 transition of Bi(3+) ion. SrSb2O6:Eu(3+) phosphor with excitation 254nm exhibits a systematically varied hue from green to orange-red light by increasing Eu(3+) concentration from 0 to 7mol%, and that with excitation 394nm only shows orange-red light. The optimal Eu(3+) concentration is ~4mol% in SrSb2O6:Eu(3+) phosphor. SrSb2O6:Eu(3+), Bi(3+) phosphor with excitation 254 and 394nm emits orange-red light. Emission intensity of SrSb2O6:Eu(3+) phosphor may be enhanced >2 times by co-doping Bi(3+) ion because of the fluxing agent and energy transfer roles of Bi(3+) ion in SrSb2O6:Eu(3+), Bi(3+) phosphor. The luminous mechanism of SrSb2O6:Eu(3+), Bi(3+) phosphor is analyzed and explained by the simplified energy level diagrams of Sb2O6(2-) group, Bi(3+) and Eu(3+) ions, and energy transfer processes between them.