Samples of inverse spinel Mg 2 SnO 4 were prepared using a ceramic method, their phosphorescence phenomenon was probed by optical measurements, and its cause was explored on the basis of density functional theory calculations for model structures of Mg 2 SnO 4 with oxygen vacancies V O . Mg 2 SnO 4 exhibits long-lasting luminescence at two different wavelength regions, peaking at ∼498 and ∼755 nm. A Sn-V O -Sn defect plus a Mg vacancy V Mg away from the V O generates the empty midgap states, σ Sn-Sn and σ Sn-Sn * , localized at the Sn-V O -Sn defect, while an oxygen vacancy V O between adjacent Sn 4+ and Mg 2+ sites creates a filled midgap state Sn 2+ (5s 2 lone pair) lying below the σ Sn-Sn level. The long-lasting luminescence at two different wavelength regions and the up-conversion photostimulated luminescence observed for undoped Mg 2 SnO 4 are well explained by considering the σ Sn-Sn * level as the trapping level for a photogenerated electron.

A promising general approach is proposed that enables the controlled reduction of dopants to tune the photoluminescence properties of single-phase materials. The change of oxidation state of dopants in phosphor phases leads to different emission colors that can be finely tuned. This approach was illustrated with the progressive reduction of the red phosphor SrAl2O4:Eu(3+) to green phosphor SrAl2O4:Eu(2+) to target yellow luminescence.

Novel melilite-type Ca2Ga2SiO7:Eu(3+) red-emitting phosphors with different Eu(3+) contents were synthesized via high-temperature solid-state reaction. The crystal structure, optical absorption, and photoluminescence properties were investigated, while density functional theory calculations were performed on the host lattice. The excitation spectra indicate that phosphors can be effectively excited by near-UV light for a potential application in white-light-emitting diodes. Because of the abnormally high intensity emission at about 700 nm arising from the (5)D0 → (7)F4 transition of Eu(3+), the phosphors Ca2Ga2SiO7:Eu(3+) show a deep-red emission with chromaticity coordinates (0.639, 0.358).