Host sensitized mid-infrared emission in LiCa₃MgV₃O₁₂ activated with Er³⁺

Synthesis and luminescence of LiCa₃MgV₃O₁₂ (LCMV) host with Er³⁺ activator is reported. Formation of phase pure compound was verified using several techniques such as XRD, SEM, elemental mapping. Typical emission of Er³⁺ in the infrared region around 1540 nm was observed. In the excitation spectrum, apart from the characteristic lines of Er³⁺ arising from f-f transitions, a broad excitation band covering the region 300–400 nm and beyond is observed. This is due to absorption of [VO₄]³⁻ groups and metal to metal charge transfer (MMCT). The phosphor is effective for downshifting Near Ultraviolet (nUV) radiations to Infrared (IR) light around 1540 nm. This property can be useful for obtaining NIR sources based on nUV LED chips and also for enhancing the spectral response of some solar cells such as GaSb to wavelengths below 600 nm down to 350 nm for which the photovoltaic conversion is poor.