Microstructure and Photoluminescence of ZrTiO4:Eu3+ Phosphors: Host-Sensitized Energy Transfer and Optical Thermometry

Orthorhombic ZrTiO4 is an attractive dielectric material; its optical properties are, however, less known. In this paper, we reported on the microstructure and luminescence studies of pristine Eu3+-doped phosphors. The results indicated that two types TiO6 octahedra, isolated/ localized coupled/delocalized, coexisted in host matrix. Eu3+ doping could induce oxygen vacancy defect states located below bottom conduction band. Pristine showed bright yellow via STEs recombination at defects sites low temperatures, but significant thermal quenching occurred due to migration centers elevated temperatures. Effective sensitized energy transfer was observed ZrTiO4:Eu3+ phosphors yielded red characteristic emissions Eu3+. Anomalous enhancement spectral blue-shift excitation spectra with higher Eu3 + concentration appeared were explained by considering three factors: competitive absorption between electron transitions from top valence band band, driving production more isolated back-transfer activators other titanate groups. On basis dual-emitting combination strategy involving luminescence, demonstrated be ratiometric self-referencing thermometric materials, a working range 153–313 K maxima relative sensitivity ~1.1% K?1 243 K.