Lanthanide ions-activated Gd2B2WO9: Multicolor tunable phosphors under single-wavelength excitation

Self-activated and lanthanide ions-activated Gd2B2WO9 phosphors were synthesized by using the traditional solid-state reaction. The dependence of the phase structure, photoluminescence (PL) and temporal decay properties of the phosphors on the lanthanide dopants was investigated. It is revealed that the Gd2B2WO9 lattice can be used as a luminescence species as well as a sensitizer of a collection of lanthanide ions. The Gd2B2WO9 lattice shows blue luminescence under an ultraviolet (UV) excitation at room temperature. When Gd2B2WO9 is doped with different lanthanide ions (such as Tb3+ and Eu3+), the luminescence from both host lattice and lanthanide ions can be obtained. Tunable PL under a single-wavelength excitation can be realized by adjusting the dopant type and amount. The energy transfer from host lattice to lanthanide dopants was also studied. •Blue luminescence from Gd2B2WO9 lattice can be obtained under a UV excitation.•Emission from Eu3+ or Tb3+ ions can be sensitized through Gd2B2WO9 lattice.•Multicolor emission can be achieved under a single wavelength excitation.