Multifunctionality of rare earth doped nano ZnSb2O6, CdSb2O6 and BaSb2O6: photocatalytic properties and white light emission.

Undoped MSb2O6 (where M = Zn, Cd, Ba) and single and double doped MSb2O6:RE (where RE = Tb(3+) and Eu(3+)) nanophosphors were synthesized through a simple sonochemical process and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), diffuse reflectance (DRS) and photoluminescence (PL) spectrophotometry. The TEM micrographs show that the resulting nanoparticles have mostly a spherical shape. Energy transfer was observed from the host to the dopant ions and characteristic green emissions from Tb(3+) ions and red emissions from Eu(3+) ions were observed. The chromaticity diagrams of the ZnSb2O6:Tb(3+)(1.2%):Eu(3+)(0.8%), CdSb2O6:Eu(3+)(0.5%):Tb(3+)(1.5%) and BaSb2O6:Eu(3+)(1%):Tb(3+)(1%) nanophosphors yielded CIE and CCT (correlated color temperature) values in the white light region. The photocatalytic activities of the undoped and double doped antimonates were evaluated for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under UV light. Undoped MSb2O6 (where M = Zn, Cd, Ba) as well as ZnSb2O6:Tb(3+)(1.2%):Eu(3+)(0.8%), CdSb2O6:Eu(3+)(0.5%):Tb(3+)(1.5%) and BaSb2O6:Eu(3+)(1%):Tb(3+)(1%) samples exhibited good photodegradation capacity for RhB. Thus double doped ZnSb2O6:Tb(3+)(1.2%):Eu(3+)(0.8%), CdSb2O6:Eu(3+)(0.5%):Tb(3+)(1.5%) and BaSb2O6:Eu(3+)(1%):Tb(3+)(1%) can be termed a bifunctional material exhibiting both photocatalytic properties and white light emission.