Luminescence of Sb3+ in closed shell transition metal oxides

The spectroscopic activity of Sb3+ is investigated at 77 K in CaTiO3, CaZrO3, SrZrO3, YNbO4, SrNb2O6 and M'-YTaO4. The data are interpreted in the frame of a Sb3+-to-transition metal (Mn+) charge transfer process that is formalized on the basis of a semi-empirical equation involving the energy of the corresponding electronic transition, the electronegativity of Sb3+ (the electron donor) and of Mn+ (the electron acceptor) and crystal structure-related parameters. [Display omitted] •The environmental factors are calculated for 20 oxidic compounds doped with Sb3+.•The luminescence of Sb3+ in oxidic compounds is revisited.•The luminescence of Sb3+ in transition metal oxides is firstly reported.•The luminescence of Sb3+ in transition metal oxides has an MMCT character.•An equation allows calculating the energy of Sb3+-to-transition metal charge transfer.