Manipulation of Temperature-Dependent Luminescence Behaviors of Mn4+-Activated Fluoride Phosphors

Abstract

<p>In this paper, the giant tunability of thermal behaviors, i.e., from thermal deterioration to substantial growth, is firmly demonstrated for the vibronic luminescence of Mn4+ ions in fluoride phosphors. Such peculiar behavior is uncovered to be associated with the thermal excitation of a low-frequency phonon bath, and a theoretical model involving the excitation-wavelength-dependent populations of vibronic levels and the temperature-dependent nonradiative recombination processes is successfully constructed. Two main governing parameters, namely, the thermal activation energy Ea and the involved average phonon energy ΔE, are thus determined for the distinct thermal behaviors of Mn4+-ion luminescence. This demonstration may pave the way for manipulating the thermal behaviors of vibronic luminescence in solids to some extent.</p>