Energy transfer (In3+ → Eu3+) based Polyvinyl Alcohol polymer composites for bright red luminescence

Abstract

A prominent sensitization effect of In3+ ions is observed in In3++Eu3+: PVA polymer composites under UV excitation. Consequently, it enhances the red emission performance of Eu3+ ions in PVA system. We have successfully synthesized Eu3+: PVA, In3+: PVA and In3++Eu3+: PVA polymer films by traditional solution casting method. The structural and ion-polymer interaction studies have been analyzed from XRD and FTIR spectral profiles. Eu3+ doped PVA polymer composites are exhibited a red emission at 619 nm (5D0→7F2) under 396 nm (7F0→5L6) of excitation. Upon co-doping with In3+ ions in different concentrations to the Eu3+: PVA polymer film, it exhibits predominant red emission than singly doped Eu3+: PVA under 396 nm of excitation due to energy migration from In3+ to Eu3+. Successful emission photons of In3+ ions are collectively absorbed by the Eu3+ ions which lead the improvement of red emission. Optimized sensitization concentration of the In3+ ions has been found to be 0.01 wt%. Possible energy migration phenomenon is elucidated by several fluorescent dynamics. The energy transfer process is substantiated by lifetime decay analysis and overlapped spectral studies. The Commission International de I-Eclairage chromaticity coordinates were calculated. The quantum efficiencies of the Eu3+ ions and In3+ ions in singly doped and co-doped polymer systems have been evaluated. From these results, these co-doped In3++Eu3+: PVA composite polymer films might be proposed as encouraging candidates for bright red fluorescent materials for several photonic applications.