Structure- and temperature-sensitive photoluminescence in a novel phosphate red phosphor RbZnPO4:Eu(3.)

A novel phosphate RbZnPO4 has been developed for the first time and the characteristic crystal structure of RbZnPO4 has been investigated in detail, based on the Fourier transform infrared reflection spectra and the structure refinement of X-ray diffraction data. After doping with Eu(3+),RbZnPO4:Eu(3+) shows distinctive deep red emission with dominating peaks at 596 and 701 nm. To provide a reasonable explanation for the relationship between photoluminescence and structure, the photoluminescence property has been discussed by analyzing the particular local ligand environment and site occupation of Eu(3+) in RbZnPO4. More interestingly, temperature-sensitive emission behavior was found in RbZnPO4:Eu(3+). Through the synthetical analysis of the configurational coordinate diagram, the charge compensation experiment and the CASTEP band structure calculation, a complex underlying mechanism is proposed to explain the abnormal temperature-sensitive emission behavior in RbZnPO4:Eu(3+). The mechanism could be helpful for better understanding the thermal quenching process of Eu(3+) in RbZnPO4 and also as a reference in some other temperature-sensitive phosphors.