Synthesis, structure and photoluminescence properties of tetragonal tungsten bronze-type Eu3+-doped K2LaNb5O15 niobate phosphor

A series of red-emitting Eu3+-doped K2LaNb5O15 niobate phosphors with tetragonal tungsten bronze-type structure were synthesized by the solid state reaction method. The structure of new tungsten bronze-type K2EuNb5O15 was identified by Rietveld refinements to crystallize in the tetragonal space group P4bm, which is isostructural to K2LaNb5O15. The relative intensity of the emission from both 5D0→7F2 and 5D0→7F1 increases with increasing Eu3+ ion concentration. The quenching mechanism of the K2La1−xNb5O15:xEu system was investigated in detail. The relationship between Photoluminescence properties and the TTB-type structure was discussed. The quantum efficiency of K2EuNb5O15 excited under near-UV light (399 nm) is 132% of that of commercial Y2O3:Eu3+ (394 nm). The results demonstrated K2EuNb5O15 phosphor as a potential candidate for white light emitting diode pumped by near-UV or blue chip.