Novel blue-emitting phosphor NaMg 4(PO 4) 3:Eu 2+, Ce 3+ with energy transfer

Abstract

A blue-emitting phosphor of NaMg 4(PO 4) 3:Eu 2+, Ce 3+ was prepared by a combustion-assisted synthesis method. The phase formation was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction measurement. Photoluminescence excitation spectrum measurements show that the phosphor can be excited by near UV light from 230 to 400 nm and presents a dominant luminescence band centered at 424 nm due to the 4f 65d 1 → 4f 7 transition of Eu 2+ ions at room temperature. Effective energy transfer occurs in Ce 3+/Eu 2+ co-doped NaMg 4(PO 4) 3 due to large spectral overlap between the emission of Ce 3+ and excitation of Eu 2+. Co-doping of Ce 3+ enhances the emission intensity of Eu 2+ greatly by transferring its excitation energy to Eu 2+, and Ce 3+ plays a role as a sensitizer. Ce 3+–Eu 2+ co-doped NaMg 4(PO 4) 3 powders can possibly be applied as blue phosphors in the fields of lighting and display.