Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of MZr2(PO4)3:Eu3+; Bi3+ (M=Na; K) phosphors

Abstract A series of new red phosphors, MZr2(PO4)3:Eu3+; Bi3+ (M=Na; K), were synthesized using the solidstate reaction method, and their photoluminescence spectra were measured. The MZr2(PO4)3:Eu3+; Bi3+ (M=Na; K) phosphors were efficiently excited by an ultraviolet (UV; 395 nm) source, and showed intense orange-red emission at 595 nm. Further investigation of the concentration-dependent emission spectra indicated that the MZr2(PO4)3:Eu3+; Bi3+ (M=Na; K) phosphors exhibit the strongest luminescence intensity when y = 0.01 in NaZr2(0:95−y)(PO4)3:Eu0.103+, Bi2y 3+ and y = 0.09 in NaZr2(0.95−y)(PO4)3:Eu0.103+, Bi2y 3+, whereas the relative PL intensity decreases with increasing Bi3+ concentration due to concentration quenching. The addition of Bi3+ widens the excitation band of NaZr2(0.95−y)(PO4)3:Eu0.103+, Bi2y 3+ around 320 nm, which provides the useful idea of broadening the excitation band around 300–350 nm to fit the ultraviolet chip.