Efficient sensitization of Eu2+/Mn2+ emissions by Ce3+ doping in NaMgPO4 host under UV excitation

A series of Ce3+/Eu2+/Mn2+-tridoped NaMgPO4 phosphors were synthesized using the combustion-assisted synthesis method. The luminescence properties and energy transfer from Ce3+/Eu2+ to Mn2+ in NaMgPO4 host have been studied. Co-doping Ce3+/Mn2+ is proved to be an ineffective approach to enhance the red emission of Mn2+, while effective energy transfer from Eu2+ to Mn2+ occurs in NaMgPO4:Eu2+,Mn2+ due to good spectrum overlap between the emission band of NaMgPO4:Eu2+ and the excitation band of NaMgPO4:Eu2+,Mn2+. NaMgPO4:Eu2+,Mn2+ phosphor shows a blue emission centered at 442 and a red emission peaking at 635 nm, which could be ascribed to the allowed 5d–4f transition of Eu2+ ions and the 4T1(4G)–6A1(6S) transition of Mn2+ ions, respectively. Co-doping Ce3+ ions can greatly enhance both the emission intensities of Eu2+ and Mn2+ ions, which is attributed to an efficient Ce3+ → Eu2+ → Mn2+ energy transfer and an increase in the number of luminescent centers (Eu2+) on Ce doping.