The Photoluminescence Behaviors of a Novel Reddish Orange Emitting Phosphor CaIn2O4:Sm3+ Codoped with Zn2+ or Al3+ Ions

Abstract

A novel reddish orange phosphor CaIn2O4:Sm3+ codoped with Zn2+ or Al3+ ions was prepared by solid state reaction and their luminescence properties were investigated under near ultraviolet excitation. The strategy of Zn2+ or Al3+ ions codoping was used with the aim to improve the luminescence properties of CaIn2O4:Sm3+, but the concrete effects of the two ions is different. The introduction of Zn2+ ions can produce defects that favor charge balance in CaIn2O4:Sm3+ to facilitate its photoluminescence. The effect of Al3+ ions codoping can effectively transfer energy from charge‐transfer absorption band to characteristic transition of Sm3+ ions, utilizing more energy from host absorption for the photoluminescence of Sm3+ ions. Based on these mechanisms, the luminescence intensity of CaIn2O4:0.6%Sm3+ was enhanced to 1.59 times and 1.51 times when codoping amount of Zn2+ and Al3+ ions reached 0.6%. However, the chromaticity coordinates of CaIn2O4:0.6%Sm3+ almost did not have any changes after Zn2+ ions or Al3+ ions codoping; those are still located at reddish orange region. The excellent luminescence properties of CaIn2O4:0.6%Sm3+,0.6%Zn2+ and CaIn2O4:0.6%Sm3+,0.6%Al3+ demonstrate that they both have potential application value as new‐style reddish orange phosphors on light‐emitting diode.