Sm3+-doped niobate orange-red phosphors with a double-perovskite structure for plant cultivation and temperature sensing

Abstract Sm3+-activated niobate double-perovskite orange-red emitting Ca2LaNbO6 (CLNO) phosphors were prepared using a solid-state reaction at 1300 °C. The purity of the powder phase, crystal structure, morphology, elemental composition, luminescent properties, thermal stability, electroluminescence and temperature sensing properties of the phosphors were comprehensively analyzed. The photoluminescence spectrum obtained under excitation of 407 nm exhibited four intense emissions ascribed to the 4f–4f transitions of Sm3+ ions. The electroluminescence spectrum of an LED device fabricated using a commercial 395-nm LED chip and the optimal CLNO:5%Sm3+ phosphor overlapped with the absorption band of the PR phytochrome state, indicating its potential for use in a plant growth lamp. Furthermore, the systematic variations in the intensity ratios of the two emission or excitation bands of Sm3+ with temperature suggested the potential of the synthesized sample for temperature sensing.