Extending the luminescence properties of zinc gallogermanate via co-doping with cost-effective metals ions (Cr3+/Mg2+, Cr3+/Ca2+, and Cr3+/Sr2+)

The huge applications of red-light-emitting materials paying the research attention to reduce cost production and raw materials. Therefore, abundant cations alkaline-earth metals, e.g., Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+ were successfully incorporated with Cr3+: Zn3Ga2Ge2O10 (Cr-ZGGO) as co-activators via simple solid-state method. X-ray diffraction results all samples confirmed formation zinc gallogermanate superstructure two cubic phases ZnGa2O4 Zn2GeO4. particle imaging Cr-ZGGO Ca@Cr-ZGGO field emission scanning electron microscopy reveals a significant change in morphology size by Ca2+ co-doping. Meanwhile, energy dispersive spectroscopic analysis mapping techniques elucidate exact chemical composition calculated stoichiometric substitution illustrate equal distribution elements over whole sample. Optical bandgap co-doped phosphors are lower than Cr-ZGGO. Sr@Cr-ZGGO displays most intense photoluminescence peak broadest near-infrared region result increasing light traps generation new paths between levels trapping centers.