Luminescence properties of ZrW{sub 2}O{sub 8}:Eu{sup 3+} nanophosphors for white light emitting diodes

Highlights: • Eu{sup 3+} ions occupy C{sub 1} point group of the Zr{sup 4+} site in ZrW{sub 2}O{sub 8} crystals. • The optimum doping concentration of Eu{sup 3+} was determined for the red emission. • ZrW{sub 2}O{sub 8}:Eu possess high quantum efficiency and suitable chromaticity coordinates. - Abstract: ZrW{sub 2}O{sub 8}:Eu{sup 3+} nanophosphors (ca. 60 nm) with different Eu{sup 3+} doping concentrations were obtained using hydrothermal syntheses. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra as well as decay curve measurements were used for the characterization. Under 466 nm excitation, strong red emission at 616 nm corresponding to {sup 5}D{sub 0}–{sup 7}F{sub 2} transition of Eu{sup 3+} was observed for ZrW{sub 2}O{sub 8}:Eu{sup 3+} (9 mol%) phosphors. The values of intensity parameter Ω{sub 2} and Ω{sub 4} are 17.82 × 10{sup −20} cm{sup 2} and 1.092 × 10{sup −20} cm{sup 2}, respectively. The high quantum efficiency of 83.5% of the ZrW{sub 2}O{sub 8}:Eu{sup 3+} (9 mol%) suggests this material could be promising red phosphor for generating white light in phosphor-converted white light-emitting diodes (LED)