Synthesis and luminescence properties of red-emitting K2MgSiO4:Eu3+ phosphors

A novel phosphor, K2MgSiO4:Eu3+, was synthesized by a solid-state reaction method. The phase formation was checked by X-ray powder diffraction. The photoluminescence excitation, emission spectra, decay curve and CIE coordinates of samples with different Eu3+ ion concentrations were investigated in detail. The excitation spectra show a broad wavelength range of 225-470 nm. The K2MgSiO4:Eu3+ phosphors exhibit highly red emission peaking at about 616 nm which is assigned to the D-5(0) -> F-7(2) transition of Eu(3+)ions under the excitation of near-ultraviolet (NUV) (394 nm) light. The critical quenching concentration of Eu3+ doped in the K2MgSiO4: Eu3+ phosphors was about 10 mol.% and the concentration quenching mechanism was dipole dipole interactions between Eu3+ ions. The results indicate that K2MgSiO4:Eu3+ is a potential red phosphor candidate for NUV-pumped white light emitting diodes.