CTAB-assisted hydrothermal synthesis and luminescence properties of BiPO4:Eu3+ phosphors

Bi0.95PO4:0.05Eu3+ phosphors with different structures and morphologies were prepared by a CTAB-assisted hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photoluminescence (PL) spectrometer were carried out to characterize the samples. The results showed that the amounts of CTAB and the pH values of the precursor solution had a great influence on the structure, morphology and luminescence intensity of the obtained samples. XRD results showed that a structural change from low temperature monoclinic phase (LTMP) to hexagonal phase (HP) happens with increasing the pH values and the amounts of CTAB. Some morphologies changes from octahedron-like to microrods and nano particles could be observed in SEM images. When the amount of CTAB was 2 mmol, the sample showed the highest luminescence intensity at pH = 0.5. Under 395 nm excitation, BiPO4:Eu3+ phosphors displayed red emission centered at 595 nm which corresponded to the 5D0→7F1 transition of Eu3+ ions. The BiPO4:Eu3+ phosphors synthesized by the CTAB-assisted hydrothermal method could be a promising phosphors which emits red light for white LEDs.