Triple-layered perovskite niobates CaRNb3O10 (R = La, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Er, Yb, or Y): new self-activated oxides.

Niobates CaRNb3O10 (R = La, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Er, Yb, or Y) were prepared by conventional high-temperature solid-state reaction. The formation of a single-phase compound with triple-layered perovskite-type structure was verified through X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The luminescence characteristics such as photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra, X-ray-excited luminescence (XEL), Stokes shift, decay curves, and color coordinates were investigated. The niobates can be efficiently excited by UV light and present luminescence behaviors with rich luminescence colors. Under excitation by ultraviolet radiation, CaRNb3O10 (R = La, Gd, Yb, or Y) exhibits strong blue luminescence due to the self-activation center of the octahedral NbO6 groups, even at room temperature. For the materials of composition CaRNb3O10 (R = Sm, Eu, Dy, or Er), the excitation at the host band produces a characteristic luminescence of rare earth ions, indicating a host-guest energy transfer process. CaRNb3O10 (R = Eu) has the strongest luminescence intensity, which can be efficiently excitated by near UV wavelength. It could be suggested to be a potential candidate for the application on near-UV excited white LEDs.