Issue 40, 2024

Revival of stifled luminescence in the Y2Sn2O7:Eu nanophosphor: circumventing the surface side effects by Zr–Eu synergy

Abstract

Although the smaller size of nanophosphors renders processability and flexibility for next-generation devices, concurrent surface prolificity stifles the phosphor efficiency, and in turn, their superiority. To circumvent the surface side effect in the Y2Sn2O7:Eu nanophosphor, the present work articulates a co-substituent (Zr4+)-assisted revival of stifled luminescence. Steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence studies revealed that with respect to nanophosphors without a Zr substituent, the Zr-substituted Y2Sn2−xZrxO7:Eu (x = 0.25, 0.5) pyrochlore nanophosphor exhibited multi-fold augmentation in lifetime and quantum efficiency values, which are key parameters for ascertaining the photoluminescence performance. The experimental and theoretical outcomes indicate that Eu3+ prefers to be in close proximity to Zr4+ ions in the Y2Sn2−xZrxO7:Eu (x = 0.25, 0.5) pyrochlore lattice to counterbalance the individual substitution consequences and generate appropriate electronic distributions and polar interactions. This proximity preference of Zr–Eu facilitates the occupation of Eu3+ in the interior region of nanoparticles and avoids the surface sensitivity. Furthermore, the lifetime values for the Y2Sn2−xZrxO7:Eu (x = 0.25, 0.5) pyrochlore nanophosphor are 5–6 ms, and the internal quantum efficiency is approximately 80%, which is the highest of any pyrochlore nanosized phosphor reported thus far, to the best of our knowledge. Thus, this work deciphered an innovative pathway for evasion of the surface-quenching effect without compromising homogeneity in the structural ordering and vicinal symmetry of the dopant/substituent across the dimensions of nanophosphors.

Graphical abstract: Revival of stifled luminescence in the Y2Sn2O7:Eu nanophosphor: circumventing the surface side effects by Zr–Eu synergy

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 Apr 2024
Accepted
13 Aug 2024
First published
28 Aug 2024

New J. Chem., 2024,48, 17411-17422

Revival of stifled luminescence in the Y2Sn2O7:Eu nanophosphor: circumventing the surface side effects by Zr–Eu synergy

D. K. Mal, S. Das, S. Nigam, B. P. Mandal, R. Kaiwart, H. K. Poswal, V. Sudarsan, C. Majumder and A. K. Tyagi, New J. Chem., 2024, 48, 17411 DOI: 10.1039/D4NJ01775G

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