Improvement of the photoluminescent intensity of ZnTa₂O ₆:Pr³⁺ phosphor

A red emitting ZnTa₂O₆:Pr³⁺ phosphor with Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage coordinates that match those of an ideal red emission was prepared by solid state chemical reaction. X-ray diffraction confirmed that a pure orthorhombic phase of ZnTa₂O ₆ was crystallized. A homogeneous distribution of the Pr³⁺ ions was confirmed from the analysis of the time of flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy overlay images. In addition to the reflectance at 259 nm associated with band-to-band absorption, minor reflectance peaks associated with f-f transitions of Pr³⁺ were observed at 420-500 nm. The main red emission peak was split into minor peaks located at 608, 619 and 639 nm that were assigned to ¹D₂.