Design and Synthesis of CdWO4:Sb3+ Phosphor Based on sp Energy Level Regularities of Sb3+ Ion

Sb 3+ ‐activated CdWO 4 phosphors were designed according to sp energy levels regularities of Sb 3+ ion in some inorganic compounds. The sp energy levels regularities of Sb 3+ in dozens of compounds were established with the aid of the dielectric theory of the chemical bond for complex crystals: E A = 6.2187−1.7584 h e , E B = 7.019−1.957 h e , E C = 7.259−1.964 h e . Environmental factor h e of Cd site was calculated to be 1.6583 with the refined crystal structure and refractive index of CdWO 4 :Sb 3+ . Sb 3+ ‐doped CdWO 4 was synthesized through a precipitation method and its structure was refined with the General Structure Analysis System. The transition energy of A band of Sb 3+ in CdWO 4 can be predicted to be 3.312 eV (374 nm), according to the relationship equation between E A and environmental factor h e . By monitoring the 521 nm emission band, the excitation spectrum gives a weak excitation band peaking at 355 nm, which was assigned to the 1 S 0 – 3 P 1 transition of Sb 3+ according to our prediction. Thus, Sb 3+ ‐doped CdWO 4 phosphor was designed and synthesized successfully based on sp energy levels regularities of Sb 3+ ion. This work is a great help to understand the spectroscopy of Sb 3+ ion and will be useful for the design and development of Sb 3+ ‐doped phosphors for applications.