Efficiently enhanced photoluminescence in Eu3+-doped Lu2(MoO4)3 by Gd3+ substituting
Highlights: • The Gd{sup 3+} doped samples had been discovered to show much better luminescent properties than Lu{sub 2}(MoO{sub 4}){sub 3}:0.02Eu{sup 3+}. • The influence of Gd{sup 3+} ions on luminescence behavior was discussed. • The DFT calculation indicates that the structure of Gd{sub 2}(MoO{sub 4}){sub 3} is more propitious for luminescence than that of Lu{sub 2}(MoO{sub 4}){sub 3}. - Abstract: A series of Lu{sub 2-x}Gd{sub x}(MoO{sub 4}){sub 3}:0.02Eu{sup 3+} (x = 0–2) red-emitting phosphors have been synthesized by the standard solid-state reaction method. Interestingly, the Gd concentration plays a profound role to influence the luminescence property. A conspicuous monotonic increase could be found in the influence of Gd{sup 3+} concentration to the emission intensity, and finally Gd{sub 2}(MoO{sub 4}){sub 3}:0.02Eu{sup 3+} exhibits the strongest red light emission with the intensifying factor even reaching 3.04-fold compared to Lu{sub 2}(MoO{sub 4}){sub 3}:0.02Eu{sup 3+}. Careful structural analysis suggested that up to about 80% (x = 1.6) Lu can be substituted by Gd with the same crystal structure of Lu{sub 2}(MoO{sub 4}){sub 3} being retained, while a higher Gd concentration would lead to it crystallizing in the Gd{sub 2}(MoO{sub 4}){sub 3} structure. We believe that the variation of crystal structure is responsible for the photoluminescence enhancing process.