Charge Transfer Luminescence of Several Zirconium-Containing Compounds Using Synchrotron Radiation

Abstract

Photoluminescence properties of pristine and Eu(2+)-doped zirconates, viz. BaZr(PO(4))(2), BaZr(4)(PO(4))(6), Ba(2)Zr(2)Si(3)O(12), and Ca(3)ZrSi(2)O(9), excited by vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) light using synchrotron radiation were studied. The undoped zirconates show self-activated emission in the 300-340 nm region under VUV excitation, which is ascribed to the Zr(4+)-O(2-) charge transfer luminescence. Upon doping Eu(2+) into these compounds, no Eu(2+) emission was observed in the rest of compounds, except for a weak Eu(2+) emission observed in Ba(2)Zr(2)Si(3)O(12):Eu(2+). The quenching of Eu(2+) luminescence is rationalized as the presence of Zr(4+)-Eu(2+) metal-metal charge transfer. (C) 2011 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3605475] All rights reserved.