Effect of alkali metal ions on structure and luminescent properties of red emitting β-Ca₃(PO₄)₂:Eu³⁺ phosphor

Abstract

In this article, red emitting β-Ca₃(PO₄)₂:Eu³⁺ phosphors were synthesized by conventional solid state method, phase transformation and photoluminescence at different temperatures and Eu³⁺ concentrations were discussed. Effect of co-doping alkali metal ions A⁺ (A = Li, Na, K) on the structure and luminescent properties of Ca₃(PO₄)₂:Eu³⁺ phosphor was investigated and compared, Li⁺ ion is confirmed to be the most suitable charge compensator for Ca₃(PO₄)₂:Eu³⁺ phosphor. The fabrication of a prototype red light emitting diode show the prepared Ca₃(PO₄)₂:Eu³⁺ phosphor compensated by Li⁺ ion can be considered as a more promising red candidate used for near ultraviolet chip based light emitting diodes.