The luminescence properties of the phosphors are determined by the electronic configuration of the activator ions and are also affected by the coordinated environment of the activator ions in the matrix. The influence of the coordinated environment on the luminescent properties of activator ions is mainly reflected in the two aspects of the electron cloud expansion effect and the crystal field splitting effect. The strength of the electron cloud expansion effect depends on the bonding characteristics of the activator ion and the ligand ion (the ratio of the ionic bond to the covalent bond component) and the size of the anion polarizability. The crystal field splitting effect depends on the coordination number, average bond length, distortion degree and point group symmetry of the nearest‐neighbor coordination polyhedron formed by the activator ion and the ligand ion. Understanding the sites occupancy of activator ions to analyze the nearest‐neighbor coordination polyhedron configuration is of great significance for understanding the luminescence properties of phosphors and developing new phosphors. Herein, the research progress on the relationship between the local structure of Eu 3+ ions and their luminescence properties in recent years is reviewed. The local structure characteristics of Eu 3+ in different matrix materials and their correlation with luminescence properties are discussed. The research shows that the luminescence properties can be effectively optimized by accurately regulating the local structure of Eu 3+ , which provides important guidance for the design and development of new luminescent materials.
Li et al. (2025) studied this question.