Using rare earth ions to improve the luminescence properties of the defect-related luminescent material Zn3Al2Ge2O10

Herein, Zn3Al2Ge2O10 was synthesized by a high-temperature solid-state method, and a weak white emission ranging from 350 to 600 nm was observed. To enhance the white emission intensity of Zn3Al2Ge2O10, rare earth ions (Eu3+, Ce3+, Dy3+, and Tb3+) were introduced into Zn3Al2Ge2O10. The results show that the white emission intensity of Zn3Al2Ge2O10 is enhanced by doping rare earth ions, which is ascribed to the increased oxygen vacancy . Especially, Eu3+ ions can effectively enhance the white emission intensity of Zn3Al2Ge2O10 as compared to other rare earth ions (Ce3+, Dy3+, and Tb3+) when doped in Zn3Al2Ge2O10, and the intensity is maximum when the doping concentration reaches 6 mol%. The results indicate that the luminescence properties of the defect-related luminescent material Zn3Al2Ge2O10 can be improved by doping rare earths ions.