Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of microcrystalline Sr₂ZnWO₆:RE³⁺ (RE = Eu, Dy, Sm and Pr) phosphors

Graphical abstract: CIE chromaticity coordinate diagram (1931) indicating different colors of Sr₂ZnWO₆:RE³⁺ (RE = Eu (a), Dy (b and c), Sm (d–f) and Pr (g and h)) phosphor under different excitation 466 nm (a), 312 nm (b), 454 nm (c), 313 nm (d), 408 nm (e), 482 nm (f), 315 nm (g) and 450 nm (h). - Highlights: • Microcrystalline Sr₂ZnWO₆:RE³⁺ (RE = Eu, Dy, Sm and Pr) phosphors were synthesized by solid state method. • Photoluminescence properties of phosphor were investigated. • Color of the phosphor for different excitation has been verified by chromaticity diagram. • The host absorption and energy transfer were investigated. - Abstract: The novel microcrystalline Sr₂ZnWO₆:RE³⁺ (RE = Eu, Dy, Sm and Pr) phosphors were synthesized by solid-state reaction method at 1250 °C and their photoluminescence properties were investigated. The Eu³⁺ and Dy³⁺ activated phosphors show intense red (616 nm) and yellow (574 nm) emission respectively; which indicate that the rare earth ions are substituted at non-centrosymmetric site in the host lattice. Near white (Dy³⁺) and reddish-orange (Sm³⁺) emissions of rare earth ions in the host lattice show strong host absorption and energy transfer from the host to activator ion. Pr³⁺ activated phosphor shows a series of emission peaks in the visible region with the most intense peak in the blue region at 491 and 499 nm