Two-Dimensional-Layered Perovskite ALaTa2O7:Bi3+ (A = K and Na) Phosphors with Versatile Structures and Tunable Photoluminescence.

Abstract

Topological chemical reaction methods are indispensable for fabricating new materials or optimizing their functional properties, which is particularly important for two-dimensional (2D)-layered compounds with versatile structures. Herein, we demonstrate a low-temperature (∼350 °C) ion exchange approach to prefabricate metastable phosphors ALa1- xTa2O7: xBi3+ (A = K and Na) with RbLa1- xTa2O7: xBi3+ serving as precursors. The as-prepared ALa0.98Ta2O7:0.02 Bi3+ (A = Rb, K, and Na) share the same Dion-Jacobson type 2D-layered perovskite phase, and photoluminescence analyses show that ALa0.98Ta2O7:0.02 Bi3+ (A = Rb, K, and Na) phosphors exhibit broad emission bands peaking at 540, 550, and 510 nm, respectively, which are attributed to the nonradiative transition of Bi3+ from excited state 3P1 or 3P0 to ground state 1S0. The various Bi3+ local environments at the crystallographic sites enable the different distributions of emission and excitation spectra, and the photoluminescence tuning of ALa0.98Ta2O7:0.02 Bi3+ (A = Rb, K, and Na) phosphors are realized through alkali metal ion exchange. Notably, the combination of superior trivalent bismuth emission and low-temperature ion exchange synthesis leads to a novel yellow-emitting K(La0.98Bi0.02)Ta2O7 phosphor which is successfully applied in a white LED device based on a commercially available 365 nm LED chip. Our realizable cases of this low-temperature ion exchange strategy could promote exploration into metastable phosphors with intriguing properties.