Sensitizing effect of Nd~(3+) on Tb~(3+) activated ZrP_2O_7 long persistent phosphor materials

The long persistent phosphors of Zr_(0.97)P_2 O_7:0.018 Tb~(3+),0.012 Nd3+with Nd~(3+)as sensitized ions and Tb~(3+)as emission centers were synthesized using high temperature solid state reaction.The crystal structure and defects,excitation and emission spectra,decay curves and thermoluminescence(TL) curves of the phosphors were investigated.The synthesized Zr_(0.97)P_2 O_7:0.018 Tb3+,0.012 Nd3+is essentially in line with the standard card PDF#49-1079.The emission band with main peak at 548 nm exhibits the characteristic transitions of ~5 D_3-~7 F_j(j=5,4) and ~5 D3-~7 F_j(j=6,5,4,3) of Tb~(3+).The analysis of excitation and emission spectra shows that there exists the overlap between the emission peaks of Nd~(3+)at 466 and 485 nm and the excitation of Tb3+at 443 and 485 nm,and the energy transfer from Nd3+to Tb3+plays an important role in the improvement of luminescence properties.The decay curves shows that Zr_(0.97)P_2 O_7:0.018 Tb3+,0.012 Nd3+has longer afterglow time than ZrP_2 O_7 and Zr_(0.982)P_2 O_7:0.018 Tb3+.Additionally,the TL curves indicate that the trap depth at 0.72 eV in Zr_(0.97)P_2 O_7:0.018 Tb~(3+),0.012 Nd3+is to the benefit of the afterglow time.The possible luminescence mechanism of ZrP_2 O_7:Tb~(3+),Nd3+is proposed on the basis of the XPS spectra,EPR spectra,excitation and emission spectra,decay curves,TL curves and the analysis of defect equations.