A high color purity red-emission phosphor based on Sm3+ and Eu3+ co-doped Ba3Bi(PO4)3

Abstract A series of red-emitting Sm3+/Eu3+ co-doped Ba3Bi(PO4)3 (BBP) phosphors were successfully synthesized through a high temperature solid-state reaction. Luminescence spectroscopic properties and decay kinetics of the samples were studied, revealing an energy transfer from Sm3+ to Eu3+ realized via electric dipole-dipole interaction in Sm3+/Eu3+ couple. The energy transfer efficiency was found to grow with the increase of Eu3+ content while no obvious concentration quenching of Eu3+ emission was detected up to the concentration of 25%. The phosphor revealed a good thermal stability owing to relatively high activation energy of 0.21 eV deduced. Color coordinates and color purity of BBP:0.05Sm3+, 0.25Eu3+ phosphor were obtained to be (0.624, 0.374) and 88.9%, respectively. The absorption of Eu3+ within the near ultraviolet spectral range was found to constantly enhance due to energy transfer from Sm3+. The results imply Sm3+/Eu3+ co-doped BBP has a great potential as a narrow-band red light-emitting phosphor applied in WLEDs.