Eu ³⁺ and Tb ³⁺ emission in molybdenophosphate Na <inf>2</inf>Y(MoO <inf>4</inf>)(PO <inf>4</inf>)

Molybdenophosphates Na 2Y 1-xEu x(MoO 4)(PO 4) and Na 2Y 1-xTb x(MoO 4)(PO 4), were shown to exhibit photoluminescence (PL) properties for a broad substitution range. Under near-UV excitation, Na 2Y(MoO 4)(PO 4):Eu 3+ and Na 2Y(MoO 4)(PO 4):Tb 3+ phosphors show emission lines corresponding to 5D 0→ 7F J (J = 0-4, red) and 5D 4→ 7F J (J = 4-6, green), respectively. The critical concentrations of Eu 3+ and Tb 3+ are 0.5 and 0.7, respectively beyond which concentration quenching occurs. This behavior is explained on the basis of Eu 3+-Eu 3+ and Tb 3+-Tb 3+ distances. For x = 1, Na 2Tb(MoO 4)(PO 4), emission from the 5D 4 level of Tb 3+ that appears yellow in color is observed. © 2012 The Electrochemical Society.