Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of Ln3+ (Ln3+=Tb3+, Dy3+, Sm3+, Er3+)-doped Ca2Nb2O7 phosphors

A series of Ln3+ (Ln3+=Tb3+/Dy3+/Sm3+/Er3+) ions doped Ca2Nb2O7 phosphors have been synthesized by high-temperature solid-state reaction. The Ln3+-doped samples are well indexed to the pure Ca2Nb2O7 phase which revealed for the X-ray diffraction (XRD) result. Under the ultraviolet light, the prepared Ca2−xNb2O7:xLn3+ (Ln3+=Tb3+/Dy3+/Sm3+/Er3+) phosphors show the characteristic cyan (Tb3+), green–white (Sm3+), yellowish (Dy3+) and green (Er3+) emissions. The energy transfer mechanisms in Ca2Nb2O7: Tb3+/Dy3+/Sm3+/Er3+ phosphors have been investigated and it deduced to be a resonant type via an electric dipole–dipole interaction. In addition, their critical distances have been calculated by concentration quenching methods. The luminescence properties of Ca2Nb2O7:Tb3+/Dy3+/Sm3+/Er3+ phosphors indicated that the Ca2Nb2O7 is a suitable host for rare earth doped laser crystal and optical materials.