Multifunctional Phosphor with High-Efficient Near-Infrared Emission Based on Antimony-Zinc Halides.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Inorganic Chemistry
• Photophysics

Background:

• Metal halide-based broadband near-infrared (NIR) luminescent materials often suffer from complex synthesis, high costs, low quantum yields, and high excitation energy requirements.
• Developing stable and efficient NIR emitters is crucial for advanced technological applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize novel organic-inorganic hybrid metal halide materials with efficient broadband NIR emission.
• To investigate the origin of NIR emission and assess the material's stability and potential applications.

Main Methods:

• Incorporation of Sb3+ and Br- ions into (C20H20P)2ZnCl4 crystals.
• Photoluminescence spectroscopy to analyze emission bands and quantum yield.
• Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy and density-functional theory (DFT) calculations to elucidate emission mechanisms.

Main Results:

• Achieved efficient broadband NIR emission spanning 550-1050 nm under 400 nm excitation.
• Obtained a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 93.57%.
• Demonstrated satisfactory environmental and thermal stability of the synthesized compounds.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized organic-inorganic hybrid metal halide exhibits groundbreaking NIR luminescence properties.
• The NIR emission is attributed to [SbX5]2- species, confirmed by spectroscopic and theoretical analyses.
• The developed phosphor shows significant potential for applications in night vision, medical imaging, and anticounterfeiting technologies.