Novel thermal stable Sm3+ doped barium hafnium phosphate red phosphor: the synthesis and characteristic luminescent property investigation

Abstract

Sm3+ activated barium hafnium phosphate phosphor Ba7Hf(PO4)6:Sm3+ with excellent thermal stability was firstly prepared with solid-state reaction method. The phase purity, luminescence property and thermal stability were systematically determined by employing X-ray diffractometer, photoluminescence spectra and temperature dependent emission spectra. The photoluminescence emission spectra showed that Ba7Hf(PO4)6:xSm3+ (0.005 ≤ x ≤ 0.04) could absorb near-ultraviolet light around 402 nm and emit red emissions with dominating peaks at 598 and 645 nm, ascribed to the 4G5/2 to 6H7/2 and 6H9/2 transitions of Sm3+ ions. The optimal doping contents as well as the Commission Internationale de L’Eclairage chromaticity coordinates of Ba7Hf(PO4)6:Sm3+ were studied. The interesting blue emission band at about 475 nm was observed and the related mechanism was discussed. The temperature dependent emission spectra revealed that Ba7Hf(PO4)6:xSm3+ exhibited stable thermal quenching behavior. The results showed that the red phosphors Ba7Hf(PO4)6:Sm3+ had potential applications in white light emitting diodes.