Abstract
This study focuses on the structural, photoluminescence and photocatalytic properties of a Dy(3+)-doped sodium zinc molybdate phosphor. The samples were synthesized using a green microwave-assisted method owing to its efficiency in time and energy consumption. The powder X-ray diffraction (P-XRD) analysis confirmed the monoclinic structure of as-synthesized Dy(3+)-doped sodium zinc molybdate with space group C2/m. The most prominent excitation band appeared at 348 nm under 590 nm, and the emission spectra for all samples exhibited a sharp peak at around 590 nm, which is attributed to the (4)F(9/2) → (6)H(13/2) electric dipole transition of Dy(3+) ions. The emission intensity increases with higher Dy(3+) doping levels, reaching maximum intensity at a concentration of 6 mol% of Dy(3+) in sodium zinc molybdate. Additionally, the Commission Internationale de l'Éclairage (CIE) chromaticity coordinates of the Dy(3+) sodium zinc molybdate phosphor places it within the orangish region. Dy(3+) is also found to play a great role in enhancing the photocatalytic activity of sodium zinc molybdate under UV light. These findings indicate that the as-synthesized phosphor holds promise for white LED and water purification applications.