Ag and Dy doped zeolite as a broadband phosphor

• The effects of Ag ions on the PL properties of Dy ions in zeolite were investigated.
• PL of Dy ions can be more than 50 times enhanced by Ag ions under UV excitation.
• Energy transfer is responsible for the PL enhancement.
• White light can be realized by annealing Ag and Dy doped zeolite A.

Photoluminescence (PL) properties of silver (Ag) and dysprosium (Dy) codoped zeolites were investigated. It was found that PL from the 4F9/2–6H13/2 transition of Dy3+ ions at 575 nm is more than 50 times enhanced by the presence of Ag+ ions under ultraviolet excitation. The excitation wavelength dependence of the PL intensity coincided well with the absorption spectra of Ag+ ions, indicating that Dy3+ ions are excited by the energy transfer from Ag+ ions. In addition, by carefully optimizing annealing condition and Dy and Ag concentration, white light was realized due to the combination of blue emission of Ag+ ions, yellow emission of Dy3+ ions and red emission of Ag clusters.