Synthesis and luminescence properties of a novel red Sr3Bi(PO4)3:Sm3+ phosphor

A series of Sr3Bi1-x(PO4)(3):xSm(3+) phosphors were prepared by solid state method at 1250 degrees C for 4 h. X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that the sample was of a pure phase of Sr3Bi(PO4)(3). The main excitation peaks were located at 343 (H-6(5/2)-> H-4(9/2)), 360 (H-6(5/2)-> D-4(3/2)), 373 (H-6(5/2)-> P-6(7/2)), 400 (H-6(5/2)-> F-4(7/2)), 414 (H-6(5/2)-> P-6(5/2)) and 467 nm (H-6(5/2)-> I-4(13/2)). The main emission were located at 563 ((4)G(5/2)-> H-6(5/2)), 599 ((4)G(5/2)-> H-6(7/2)), 646 ((4)G(5/2)-> H-6(9/2)) and 708 nm ((4)G(5/2)-> H-6(11/2)). The intensest emission was excited by 400 nm. We studied the effect of different doping concentrations of Sm3+ activator on the luminescence properties and found that the luminescent intensity first increased with Sm3+ concentration increasing, and then decreased. The luminescent intensity had the best value when x=0.04. The chromaticity coordinates of the sample Sr3Bi0.96(PO4)(3):0.04Sm(3+) were (x=0.57, y=0.36), and the lifetime was 2.12 ms.