Improvement in luminescence of Dy3+ doped ZnMoO4 single ingredient white light emitting phosphor

Single-component phosphors for white-light emission are gaining interest among researchers. This paper presents a cost-effective synthesis of Dy3+ doped and un-doped ZnMoO4 by environment-friendly and auto-combustion process. The Dy3+ doped ZnMoO4 phosphor is well suited for single ingredient white-light emitting phosphor. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern reflects a triclinic phase of un-doped and Dy3+ doped ZnMoO4 phosphor. The UV-Vis absorption analysis of Dy3+ doped ZnMoO4 depicts a blue shift in the absorption peak. A broadband photoluminescence (PL) emission was observed due to the charge transfer band from O2- to Mo6+/ Dy3+. Broad PL emission was de-convoluted in the form of three intense emission peaks at 484 nm, 574 nm, and 661 nm for Dy3+ doped phosphor, correlated with Dy3+ transitions 4 F9/2 → 6 Hj (j = 15/2, 13/2, and 11/2). Mechanism of energy transfer between [MoO4] 2- to Dy3+ energy states discussed based on different transitions.