Investigation on tunable red and white emissions in Bi3+/Eu3+ co-doped Y2Zr2O7 microcrystals

Abstract In this study, we synthesized Y 2 Zr 2 O 7 (YZO): Bi 3+ /Eu 3+ microcrystals through high-temperature solid-phase method. When the microcrystals were excited upon 263 nm and 329 nm, a tunable emission color variation from red to white is observed. The Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) of YZO: 6% mol Bi 3+ , 5% mol Eu 3+ excited upon 329 nm is 4194 K, exhibited warm white light. Furthermore, the emission intensity of Eu 3+ ion is remarkably improved by the incorporation of Bi 3+ ion, due to the energy transfer from Bi 3+ ion to Eu 3+ ion. Their efficiency ( η T ) in YZO: 6% mol Bi 3+ , 5% mol Eu 3+ reaches 49.17%. The corresponding absolute quantum efficiency ( λ ex = 329 nm) of YZO: 6% mol Bi 3+ , 5% mol Eu 3+ is 56.21%. These results indicate that YZO: Bi 3+ /Eu 3+ microcrystals are highly potential to enhance the industrial growth of photonics field, particularly the application of anti-counterfeiting and white light-emitting diodes.