The synergism between self-activated and impurity-related emissions of LiCa(3)ZnV(3)O(12): lattice distortion, energy transfer and temperature sensing effect

Some of the metal vanadates have special self-activated luminescence. In order to further enrich its luminous color, luminescent impurity ions can be introduced into its lattice. The interaction between the self-activated emission and the impurity-related emission remains to be studied. In this work, the synergism between the two kinds of emission in LiCa(3)ZnV(3)O(12) was explored from these three aspects: lattice distortion, energy transfer and temperature effect. Eu(3+) ions replace Ca(2+) ions in the lattice of LiCa(3)ZnV(3)O(12), leading to a lattice contraction of the LCZV host, which depresses the self-activating emission around 500 nm. The characteristic linear emissions of Eu(3+) ions are also observed benefiting from the energy transfer from [VO(4)](3−) to Eu(3+). Since the temperature quenching effect is more sensitive for the self-activated emission than that for the Eu(3+)-related ones, the phosphor can be applied as a luminescent temperature sensor, with the absolute and relative temperature sensitivities of 0.012 K(−1) and 1.56% K(−1), respectively.