Incorporating Ce3+ into a high efficiency phosphor Ca2PO4Cl:Eu2+ and its luminescent properties

Abstract

A series of Ce³⁺, Eu²⁺ and Ce³⁺/Eu²⁺ doped Ca₂PO₄Cl phosphors are synthesized by a high temperature solid-state method. Not only is the emission intensity of Ca₂PO₄Cl:Eu²⁺ obviously enhanced by codoping Ce³⁺, but also the spectral profile of the excitation band is almost not influenced. The energy transfer from Ce³⁺ to Eu²⁺ in Ca₂PO₄Cl has been validated and proved to be a resonant type via a dipole–dipole interaction. Under the 400 nm radiation excitation, the luminescent intensity of Ca₂PO₄Cl:Ce³⁺, Eu²⁺ is found to be about 200% that of Ca₂PO₄Cl:Eu²⁺, and 300% that of BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:Eu²⁺. The thermal quenching properties reveal that Ca₂PO₄Cl:Ce³⁺, Eu²⁺ has excellent characteristics. Therefore, Ca₂PO₄Cl:Ce³⁺, Eu²⁺ may have potential application as a blue-emitting phosphor for white LEDs.