Switchable cool and cold white emission from dysprosium doped SrZnO₂

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Solid State Physics
• Luminescence

Background:

• Developing efficient white-emitting phosphors is crucial for advanced lighting technologies.
• Dysprosium (Dy) doping in host lattices can lead to unique luminescent properties.
• Strontium zinc oxide (SrZnO2) offers a promising host material for phosphors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize novel dysprosium (Dy)-doped SrZnO2 nanophosphors.
• To investigate the excitation-selective cool and cold white emission properties.
• To understand the underlying luminescence mechanisms for potential lighting applications.

Main Methods:

• Combustion synthesis technique for nanophosphor preparation.
• Photoluminescence spectroscopy to analyze excitation and emission spectra.
• UV-irradiated glow curve analysis to study trap dynamics.
• Correlated color temperature measurements for emission characterization.

Main Results:

• Achieved excitation-selective cool and cold white emission from Dy-doped SrZnO2 nanophosphors.
• Identified selective excitation routes for Dy3+ levels (270 nm) and intrinsic defects (375 nm).
• Correlated color temperature confirmed cool white emission from Dy3+ and cold white emission from intrinsic defects.
• Glow curve analysis revealed Dy-assisted traps and host-related traps.

Conclusions:

• SrZnO2:Dy nanophosphors exhibit tunable white emission based on excitation wavelength.
• The luminescence mechanism is explained through a proposed band model.
• SrZnO2:Dy is a potential candidate for daylight sources in commercial and aesthetic lighting.