High Eu3+ concentration quenching in Y3TaO7 solid solution for orange-reddish emission in photonics

Abstract

We report the synthesis of a Y₃TaO₇ solid solution containing a high Eu³⁺ concentration (from 7 up to 50 mol%) and investigate how Eu³⁺ influences the Y₃TaO₇ crystallization process. To this end, we evaluate the Y₃TaO₇ structural features and photoluminescence properties after Eu³⁺ introduction into the Y₃TaO₇ lattice. The higher the Eu³⁺ ion concentration, the more stable the crystallization process of the Y₃TaO₇ phase seems to be. The Eu³⁺-containing Y₃TaO₇ displays intense orange-reddish, broad band emission because Eu³⁺ occupies different symmetry sites in the host and causes inhomogeneous broadening. Eu³⁺ emission quenching due to Eu³⁺ concentration is negligible up to 30 mol% and absolute quantum yield values of up to nearly 30% were obtained, making Eu³⁺-containing Y₃TaO₇ interesting materials for application as high-intensity emitters in photonics.