Cross Relaxation of Sm3+ and Energy Transfer Between Sm3+ and Eu3+ Ions in (Ca0.97Sr0.03)3(VO4)2 Phosphor Host

Abstract

An attempt was made to verify that the inhibition of Sm3+→Eu3+ energy transfer in (Ca0.97Sr0.03)2.82(VO4)2:Sm3+,0.12Eu3+ phosphors at Sm3+ content levels of >0.06 mol can be ascribed to the cross‐relaxation effect. The emission peak at around 951 nm attributed to the 6F11/2→6H5/2 transition of Sm3+, which should be barely detectable according to the energy‐gap law, was observed in this work by exciting the 4K11/2 state of Sm3 + . The results indicate that cross‐relaxation channels, which can depopulate the 4F3/2 state of Sm3+, such as 1st Sm3+ (4F3/2) + 2nd Sm3+ (6H5/2)→1st Sm3+ (6F11/2) + 2nd Sm3+ (6F5/2) and 1st Sm3+ (4F3/2) + 2nd Sm3+ (6H5/2)→1st Sm3+ (6F5/2) + 2nd Sm3+ (6F11/2), may form and become efficient at an Sm3+ doping level of ≧0.06 mol. It was found that the 951‐nm emission suffered from concentration quenching, which resulted from a dipole–dipole multipolar interaction.