Excitation wavelength-dependent multi-color emitting phosphor Ba2GdTaO6: Mn4+, Er3+ for application in anti-counterfeiting

Developing multi-mode luminescent anti-counterfeiting materials is one of an efficient tactics to ensure the security of important documents and information. Herein, multi-mode luminescent material Ba2GdTaO6: Mn4+, Er3+ was synthesized via high temperature solid state method, which exhibits yellow-green and yellow up-conversion (UC) luminescence under the excitation of 980 and 1550 nm lasers as well as deep red light emission under 365 nm source, respectively. Furthermore, the influences of doping Mn4+ and Er3+ on the UC and down-conversion (DC) luminescence were discussed respectively, and possible luminescence mechanisms and energy transfer processes between them were also analyzed in detail. The potential application of Ba2GdTaO6: Mn4+, Er3+ in anti-counterfeiting was also achieved by screen printing fluorescent security patterns to demonstrate.