Optical transition tuning of Er3+ in continuous tungsto-molybdate solid solution NaY(Mo W1-O4)2 phosphors

Nowadays, the application scenarios of rare earth doped luminescent materials tend to be refined and complicated. The optical properties of rare earth doped materials are difficult to precisely control via the traditional design and synthesis methods, namely, changing doping concentration or preparative conditions. The aim of this study is to tune the optical transition properties of Er3+ in tungsto-molybdate NaY(MoxW1-xO4)2 (x = 0, 0.01, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9, 0.99 and 1.0) phosphors by changing the host matrix. The Er3+ doped continuous tungsto-molybdate solid solution NaY(MoxW1-xO4)2 phosphors were prepared via a solid state reaction technique at optimized calcination temperatures. The refractive indexes of the obtained solid solution samples were confirmed according to different models and compared. Subsequently, the optical transition intensity parameters, radiative transition rates and intrinsic radiative lifetimes of Er3+ in these solid solution phosphors were calculated in the framework of Judd-Ofelt theory. It was confirmed that the optical transition properties of Er3+ can be greatly tuned by the solid solution composition, and the tuning effects for different transitions are different. To validate the reliability of the Judd-Ofelt calculations, the temperature-dependent emission spectra of two green emissions of Er3+ for different solid solution samples were studied. It was found that the radiative transition rate ratios between two green emissions derived from theoretical calculations and experimental measurements are in reasonable agreement, thus proving that the optical transition calculations are reliable and the optical transition properties of Er3+ in the tungsto-molybdates can be tuned in a large range. This work reminds us of a new route for developing novel luminescence materials based on practical demands.