New Materials, Compounds and Applications

This research investigated the crystal structure, photoluminescence, and photocatalytic characteristics of Ca_1-xZr_x/2TiO₃:x/2Eu³⁺ phosphors. The phosphors were synthesized using a solution combustion method, with different concentrations of Zr⁴⁺ and Eu³⁺ dopants to improve their structural and optical properties. The synthesized phosphors' photocatalytic activity has been evaluated through the use of methylene blue (MB) and crystal violet (CV) dyes. X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy were utilized to characterize the phosphors. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the perovskite crystal structure of the phosphors, indicating a slight distortion at low doping levels. Photoluminescence spectra exhibited notable emission at 617 nm, corresponding to the red-light band, indicating the potential use of the phosphors in WLEDs. The synthesized phosphors demonstrated significant photocatalytic activity in the degradation of toxic organic dyes under visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic efficiency for CV was 96.01 %, significantly higher than the 70.63 % observed for MB. The results indicate the considerable potential of these phosphors for lighting and environmental applications and offer insights into the design of efficient, eco-friendly phosphors for WLEDs and the degradation of harmful pollutants, contributing to sustainable lighting solutions and environmental remediation efforts.