Dysprosium-activated scheelite-type oxides as thermosensitive phosphors†
Abstract
Scheelite-type oxides of formulas NaLa1−xDyx(MO4)2 and Na5La1−xDyx(MO4)4 (M = Mo, W) were investigated as thermosensitive phosphors in the 300–700 K temperature range. Phosphors were synthesized in the solid state and their thermometric responses were quantitatively interrogated using the luminescence intensity ratio approach. Temperature-dependent blue emissions from the thermally coupled levels 4I15/2 (454 nm) and 4F9/2 (484 nm) of Dy3+ were observed under steady-state ultraviolet excitation of the oxygen-to-metal charge-transfer state. The ratio between the integrated intensities of these emission bands was used as the thermometric parameter. Relative thermometric sensitivities were systematically mapped as a function of host composition and activator concentration. At 350 K, the highest relative sensitivity was observed for Na5La0.5Dy0.5(WO4)4 (1.8 × 10−2 K−1), while at 700 K the sensitivity was maximum for NaDy(MoO4)2 (3.8 × 10−3 K−1). Comparison of these values with those reported for other dysprosium-activated phosphors revealed the potential of scheelite-type oxides as optical sensors for intermediate temperatures (<1000 K).