Luminescence properties of phosphate phosphor Ba{sub 3}Y(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}:Sm{sup 3+}
A series of reddish orange-emitting phosphate phosphors Ba{sub 3}Y{sub 1−x}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}:xSm{sup 3+}(0.01≤x≤0.20) were synthesized by solid-state reaction. X-ray diffraction and photoluminescence spectra were utilized to characterize the structure and luminescence properties of as-synthesized phosphors. The optimized phosphors Ba{sub 3}Y{sub 0.95}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}:0.05Sm{sup 3+} present several excitation bands from 300 to 500 nm, and exhibit intense reddish orange-emitting properties. The energy transfer type between Sm{sup 3+} ions was confirmed as d–d interaction by using Van Uitert model. The chromatic properties of the typical sample Ba{sub 3}Y(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}:0.05Sm{sup 3+} phosphor have been found to have chromaticity coordinates of (0.583, 0.405), which are located in reddish orange region under the excitation of 401 nm. These results indicated that Ba{sub 3}Y(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}:Sm{sup 3+} phosphors have potential applications in the field of lighting and display due to their effective excitation in the near-ultraviolet range. - Graphical abstract: The color coordinates for 5 mol% Sm{sup 3+} doped Ba{sub 3}Y(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} phosphor were calculated to be (0.583, 0.405), which are located in reddish orange region under the excitation of 401 nm. The peaks of Ba{sub 3}Y{sub 0.95}(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}:0.05Sm{sup 3+} phosphor with the highest emission intensity at 600 nm are broader than those of Y{sub 2}O{sub 3}:Eu{sup 3+} and Y{sub 2}O{sub 2}S:Eu{sup 3+} phosphors. All these characteristics suggest that Ba{sub 3}Y(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}:Sm{sup 3+} phosphors are suitable for near-UV (370–410 nm) excitation and can be applicable to near UV-based WLEDs. ▪ - Highlights: • Different concentration Sm{sup 3+}-doped Ba{sub 3}Y(PO{sub 4}){sub 3} phosphors were fabricated by solid state method. • The optimized phosphors present the several excitation bands from 300 to 500 nm. • The Ba{sub 3}Y(PO{sub 4}){sub 3}:Sm{sup 3+} shows bright reddish orange emissions under 401 nm excitation.