Novel inorganic xerogels doped with CaWO4:xDy: Synthesis, characterization and luminescence properties

• Published in: Materials chemistry and physics Vol. 199; pp. 166 - 172
• Main Authors: Grobelna, Beata, Synak, Anna, Głowaty, Dorota, Bojarski, Piotr, Szczepańska, Elżbieta, Szczodrowski, Karol, Gryczynski, Ignacy, Karczewski, Jakub
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 15-09-2017; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Calcium tungstate; Calcium tungstates; Chemical synthesis; Dysprosium; Dysprosium(III) ions; Emission analysis; Emission spectra; Excitation spectra; Luminescence; Nanoparticles; Optical properties; Phosphors; Plasmons; Quenching; Scheelite; Silicon dioxide; Silver nanoparticles; Sol-gel processes; Thermal analysis; Xerogels; Calcium tungstate; Sol-gel processes; luminescence; Dysprosium(III) ions; Silver nanoparticles
• ISSN: 0254-0584; 1879-3312
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2017.07.005

A series of novel phosphors based on silica xerogel doped with CaWO4:xDy(III) with various concentration of dysprosium ion was synthesized over a temperature of 800 °C. The thermal analysis, XRD measurement and spectroscopic investigations of these materials are presented in this study. Steady state luminescence, luminescence excitation spectra as well as emission spectra have been measured. Under the ultraviolet light, the prepared phosphors show characteristic blue and yellow bands which correspond to 4F9/2 → 6H15/2 and 4F9/2 → 6H13/2 transitions of Dy3+ ion, respectively. The concentration quenching effect occurs when the Dy3+ concentration is x = 0.1.
We also present the possibility to increase the emission intensity of Dy(III) doped CaWO4 incorporated into silica xerogel as a result of its interaction with surface plasmons created by silver nanoparticles.
•Synthesis of silica xerogels doped with CaWO4:xDy is described.•The luminescence properties of Dy(III) ion are presented.•Obtained materials are new and promising phosphors.•Silver nanoparticles enhance the intensity of emission of Dy(III) ion.