A novel photochromic material based on halophosphate: Remote light-controlled reversible luminescence modulation and fluorescence lifetime regulation

Luminescent material Ca2Ba3(PO4)3F:Eu2+ displays green emitting in the range of 400–700 nm, which is ascribed to the 4f65d1 →4f7 transition of Eu2+ ions. Amazingly, the body color of the samples can be changed between colorless and green upon alternative UV and visible light irradiation/heating treatment with robust fatigue resistance due to photochromism. The photochromic effect strongly depends on the Eu2+ doping concentration. After remote-controlled short-UV irradiation, the overall Eu2+ emission intensity presents a significant decrease, and inversely, exhibits an increase to the initial level after illuminated by longer wavelength light or heat treatment. Moreover, the fluorescence lifetime also can be regulated reversibly, of which the regulation degree depends on the short-UV irradiation and longer wavelength illumination time/heating temperature. A schematic diagram based on energy levels is proposed to illustrate the photochromism mechanism.