Photoluminescence Characteristics of Reddish-orange Eu3+ or Sm3+ Singly-doped and Eu3+ and Sm3+ Co-doped KZnGd(PO4)2 Phosphors

Eu3+ or Sm3+ singly-doped and Eu3+ anti Sm3+ co-doped KZnGd(PO4)(2) phosphors were synthesized by using a conventional solid state reaction method at 750 degrees C. The emission spectra of KZnGd1-x(PO4)(2):Eu-x(3+) with lambda(ex) = 395 nm and KZnGd1-y(PO4)(2):Sm-y(3+) with lambda(ex) = 403 nm phosphors showed intense D-5(0) -> F-7(1), (4)G(5/2) -> H-6(7/2) emission transitions at 595 nm and 599 nm, respectively. The optimum relative intensity of the KZnGd1-x-y(PO4)(2):Eu-x(3+), Sm-y(3+) phosphor was obtained for the doping concentrations of (x = 0.09, y = 0.01). In addition, the temperature-dependent luminescence intensity of the synthesized phosphors was investigated and the thermal stability of the KZnGd(PO4)(2):Eu3+ phosphor was found to be higher than that of standard YAG:Ce3+ and KZnGd1-x-y(PO4)(2):Eux3+Smy3+ under near ultra-violet (NUV) light emitting diode excitation (LED). Therefore, we suggest that Eu3+ or Sm3+ singly-doped and Eu3+ and Sm3+ co-doped KZnGd(PO4)(2) phosphors should be efficient for different red-color-emitting display device applications and NUV-LED-based white-light-emitting diodes.