文摘
Rare-earth (Eu3+ and/or Tb3+) ions doped YNbO4 phosphors were prepared though a Pechini-type sol鈥揼el process. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence, and cathodoluminescence spectra were utilized to characterize the synthesized phosphors. XRD reveal that the samples begin to crystallize at 800 掳C and pure YNbO4 phase can be obtained at 1000 掳C. FE-SEM images indicate that the YNbO4:A (A = Eu3+ and/or Tb3+) samples consist of fine and spherical grains of around 40鈥?0 nm. Under the ultraviolet light (around 255 nm) and low-voltage electron beams, the prepared YNbO4:A (A = Eu3+ and/or Tb3+) phosphors show the characteristic blue broadband emission (from 300 to 500 nm with a maximum around 403 nm) of the YNbO4 host lattice, the characteristic red emission of Eu3+ (5DJ 鈫?7FJ鈥?/sub>, J, J鈥?= 0,1,2,3 transitions) and the characteristic green emission of Tb3+ (5D4 鈫?7F6,5,4,3 transitions). There exists an energy transfer from the YNbO4 host lattices to Eu3+ (Tb3+) ions. By tuning the relative doping concentration of Eu3+ and Tb3+, a single-composition white-light-emitting has been realized in YNbO4:Eu3+,Tb3+ phosphor. The obtained YNbO4:Eu3+, YNbO4:Tb3+, and YNbO4:Eu3+,Tb3+ phosphors have potential application in the areas of UV white-light-emitting diodes, field emission display devices, and vacuum fluorescent display devices, etc.