Structural and photoluminescence properties of Eu3+ doped Ag2WO4 synthesized by the green coprecipitation methodology

Abstract

Silver tungstate (±-Ag2WO4) is a potential material in the field of science and technology due to its several applications, especially in the photoluminescence and photocatalytic field. Eu-doped silver tungstate can be a promising luminescent material since it emission spectra comprises a broad band in the blue region and narrow peaks in the red region. Moreover, new intermediary levels between the valence and conduction bands are created due to the insertion of Eu ions, resulting in a novel electronic configuration for photocatalytic purpose. Previous results developed in São Carlos - UFSCar (FAPESP: 2013/23995-8 - part of CEPID - CDMF 2013/07296-2) showed efficiently synthesis and characterization of undoped and Eu-doped silver tungstate (±-Ag2-3xEuxWO4). However, once the ±-Ag2WO4 matrix presents different clusters sites for Eu3+ occupation due to its complexity host lattice, it is necessary more specified characterizations to understand the behavior of the structural and luminescent modifications caused by the insertion of a different ion into the matrix. The main objective of this internship abroad in "Wolfson Centre for Materials Processing" (Centre for Phosphors and Display Materials) at Brunel University London is to learn how to use new luminescence characterizations in order to better explain the optical properties of the system created using Eu3+ and silver tungstate. In this sense, luminescent characterizations, which will be used to these materials, can give us valuable information concerning excitation and emission spectra, lifetime, judd ofelt parameters calculation, among other, to further explain the structural environment around the Eu3+ surroundings.