Synthesis and luminescence properties of a novel red Sr3Bi(PO4)3:Sm3+ phosphor

Abstract A series of Sr 3 Bi 1– x (PO 4 ) 3 : x Sm 3+ phosphors were prepared by solid state method at 1250 °C for 4 h. X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that the sample was of a pure phase of Sr 3 Bi(PO 4 ) 3 . The main excitation peaks were located at 343 ( 6 H 5/2 → 4 H 9/2 ), 360 ( 6 H 5/2 → 4 D 3/2 ), 373 ( 6 H 5/2 → 6 P 7/2 ), 400 ( 6 H 5/2 → 4 F 7/2 ), 414 ( 6 H 5/2 → 6 P 5/2 ) and 467 nm ( 6 H 5/2 → 4 I 13/2 ). The main emission were located at 563 ( 4 G 5/2 → 6 H 5/2 ), 599 ( 4 G 5/2 → 6 H 7/2 ), 646 ( 4 G 5/2 → 6 H 9/2 ) and 708 nm ( 4 G 5/2 → 6 H 11/2 ). The intensest emission was excited by 400 nm. We studied the effect of different doping concentrations of Sm 3+ activator on the luminescence properties and found that the luminescent intensity first increased with Sm 3+ concentration increasing, and then decreased. The luminescent intensity had the best value when x =0.04. The chromaticity coordinates of the sample Sr 3 Bi 0.96 (PO 4 ) 3 :0.04Sm 3+ were ( x =0.57, y =0.36), and the lifetime was 2.12 ms.