Enhanced photoluminescence in a Eu3+ doped CaTiO3 perovskite phosphor via incorporation of alkali ions for white LEDs

Intense red photoluminescence has been observed in Eu3+/Z(+) (Z(+) = Li+, Na+ & K+ ) co-doped CaTiO3 pemvskite phosphor materials, synthesized through high temperature solid-state reaction technique. The phosphor materials are structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. All the compounds are crystalline with the orthorhombic phase. The crystallite and particle size of phosphor increase via incorporation of alkali ions. The vibrational groups in phosphor materials are studied by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) technique. The diffuse reflectance spectra showed a number of peaks in the UV-visible regions due to different transitions of Eu3+ ion. The band gap (E-g) of the phosphor decreases on incorporation of alkali ions. The phosphor materials emit intense red color at 613 nm due to D-5(0) -> F-7(2) transition of Eu3+ ion upon 398 nm and 466 nm excitation wavelengths. The intensity of red emission increases upto 12 mol% concentration of Eu3+ ions. On incorporation of alkali ions in the 12 mol% Eu3+: CaTiO3 phosphor, the emission intensity increases further due to crystallinity, charge compensation and the asymmetry created around the Eu3+ ions in the phosphor. The emission intensity is largest for the 12Eu(3+)/10Na(+) co-doped CaTiO3 phosphor. The asymmetric ratio is higher for the 12Eu(3+)/10Na(+) co-doped CaTiO3 phosphor. The lifetime of D-5(0) level is enhanced via incorporation of alkali ions and it is also larger for the 12Eu(3+)/10Na(+) co-doped CaTiO3 phosphor. The CIE color coordinates, correlated color temperature (CCT), color purity and color rendering index (CRI) calculations of the phosphors have also been carried out, which show pure red color in warm light region. Therefore, these synthesized perovskite phosphor materials can be advantageous for display devices, NUV excited red phosphors for making the tricolor phosphor converted WLEDs and blue LED chip-based WLEDs for solid state lighting applications.