Photoluminescence properties of a green to red-emitting Eu3+, Tb3+ co-doped CaBi2Ta2O9 ferroelectrics

The CaBi₂Ta₂O₉ bismuth layered-structure ferroelectrics doped with rare earth ions Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺, or co-doped with Eu³⁺/Tb³⁺ were prepared by the conventional solid-state reaction method. The microstructure and photoluminescence properties of CaBi₂Ta₂O₉: Eu³⁺, CaBi₂Ta₂O₉: Tb³⁺ and CaBi₂Ta₂O₉: Eu³⁺/Tb³⁺ were investigated. The XRD patterns demonstrate that the rare earth ions have been effectively doped into CaBi₂Ta₂O₉ host lattices. The photoluminescence properties of CaBi₂Ta₂O₉ with different activator ions are researched in details. The novel red and green light emissions were observed under the excitation of blue and near-UV light. Notably, tunable emissions and a warm-white color have been achieved in the Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ co-doped CaBi₂Ta₂O₉ powders. These results suggest that CaBi₂Ta₂O₉: Eu³⁺, CaBi₂Ta₂O₉: Tb³⁺ and CaBi₂Ta₂O₉: Eu³⁺/Tb³⁺ could be novel luminescence materials. It is also expected that rare earth doped CaBi₂Ta₂O₉ ferroelectrics can find potential applications in new multifunctional photoluminescence ferroelectric devices.