Energy transfer from Eu2+ to Mn2+ in M5(PO4)3Cl (M=Ca, Sr)

Abstract M 4.95− y (PO 4 ) 3 Cl:0.05Eu 2+ , y Mn 2+ (M=Ca, Sr) phosphors were synthesized at 1200 °C under a reductive atmosphere. The energy transfer mechanism and efficiency ( η ) from Eu 2+ to Mn 2+ as well as the quantum efficiency ( Q ) of the Mn 2+ emission were analyzed using PL spectra and decay curves. Least squares fittings of the Eu 2+ decay curves indicate that the energy transfer from Eu 2+ to Mn 2+ follows the exchange mechanism in the Sr system, while besides exchange mechanism other complicated quenching processes are involved in the Ca system. Superficially the η is high but the Q is low, which implies some energy loss. Two quenching models representative of an “inverse bottleneck process”, which is related to the lifetime mismatch between Eu 2+ and Mn 2+ , and a “charge transfer process“ in the Eu 2+ –Mn 2+ clusters, are proposed. The results may provide some clues for designing excellent sensitizer and activator co-doped phosphors in our further work.