Eu3+ hypersensitive transition modulation: A novel red garnet phosphors with high color purity and excellent thermal stability

Abstract

Luminescent materials have garnered interest as alternative dusting powders for the enhanced visualization of latent fingerprints (LFPs) due to their pronounced emission, vivid fluorescence, and high contrast capabilities. This study introduces, for the first time, a novel red garnet phosphor doped with Eu3+ in the Ca3Zr2SiGa2O12 (CZSG) matrix. By substituting Eu3+ ions for Ca2+ ions, the hypersensitive transition of the Eu3+ ions is modulated, leading the phosphor to exhibit an outstanding color purity, nearing 100 %. The optimal emission intensity of the phosphor is achieved with a Eu3+ concentration of 12 %. Notably, it showcases high thermal stability, retaining 96.5 % of its intensity at 423 K, and has a high activation energy of 0.4385 eV. This phosphor has displayed its potential in latent fingerprint analysis, as evidenced by its effective application in visualizing latent fingerprints.