Synthesis and characterization of novel blue emitting Na2CaSiO4:Ce3+ phosphor

The blue phosphors Na(2−x)Ca(1−x)SiO4:xCe3+ were synthesized by the sol–gel method and their luminescence characteristics were investigated for the first time. Structural information about prepared samples is obtained by analyzing the XRD patterns and SEM micrographs. The photoluminescence (PL) excitation spectra indicate that the Na(2−x)Ca(1−x)SiO4:xCe3+ phosphors can be effectively excited by ultraviolet (360 nm) light. The PL emission spectra exhibit tunable blue broadband emission with the dominant wavelength of 427–447 nm under excitation of 360 nm by controlling the doping concentration of Ce3+. The concentration quenching effect for Ce3+ was found at the optimum doping concentration of 4 mol%. The Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage 1931 chromaticity coordinates of Na1.96Ca0.96SiO4:0.04Ce3+ are (0.1447, 0.0787), which are better color purity compared to the commercial Eu2+-doped BaMgAl10O17 phosphor. Na1.96Ca0.96SiO4:0.04Ce3+ composition shows intense blue emission (peak wavelength, 439 nm) with relative intensity versus commercial BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+ blue phosphor (Nichia) 65 and 158 % under 254 and 365 nm excitation, respectively. All the results indicate that Na(2−x)Ca(1−x)SiO4:xCe3+ phosphors are potential candidate as a blue emitting phosphor for UV-converting white light-emitting diodes.