Synthesis and characterization of Eu3+-doped CaZrO3-based perovskite-type phosphors. Part I: Determination of the Eu3+ occupied site using the ALCHEMI technique

Abstract Eu3+-doped CaZrO3, SrZrO3, and Mg2+- or Sr2+-co-doped CaZrO3 were synthesized by conventional solid state reaction and their photoluminescence (PL) properties were characterized. The Eu3+-doped CaZrO3-based compounds exhibited characteristic emissions of Eu3+ (f–f transition). The intensity of the main PL emission peak at 614 nm increased with Mg2+ co-doping, while it decreased with the amount of co-doped Sr2+. The site substituted by Eu3+ cations in the CaZrO3-based compounds was investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis based on the electron channeling effects in transmission electron microscopy. The Eu3+ cations were determined to occupy mainly the B site (Zr4+) in CaZrO3. The dominant Eu3+ substitution site was also strongly influenced by the co-dopant, and the ionic radius of the co-dopant was identified as an important factor that determines the dominant Eu3+ substitution site.