Delineating Dy3+ and Sm3+ in thermally stable strontium silicate apatites for multifunctional applications

•Synthesis of Dy3+ and Sm3+ doped phosphors via solid-state route demonstrates exceptional structural and luminescence characteristics.•Sr2Y8-xDyx(SiO4)6O2, the yellow phosphors can be used in conjunction with InGaN blue LED chips to produce white luminescence.•Sr2Y7.8Sm0.2(SiO4)6O2, along with the photometric parameters shows the suitability in bulbs that support the flowering of indoor plants.•The rapid decay time of Sm3+ doped phosphors signifies their viability for high-speed response LEDs.•The relative sensitivity of 1.11%K−1 suggests superior thermal sensitivity, positioning them as a standout candidate for thermal sensors. The structural, optical and temperature dependent luminescence properties of a series of Sr2Y8-xREx(SiO4)6O2 (RE=Dy and Sm) silicate phosphors are investigated for their multifunctional applications. The phosphors were synthesized using the solid-state reaction route with varying doping levels and characterized for phase purity. X-ray Diffraction analysis revealed the hexagonal crystal structure of (Sr2RE2)(RE6)(SiO4)6O2, indicating the incorporation of rare earth (RE) ions into two distinct crystallographic sites, thereby augmenting the luminescence properties. Dy3+ doped compounds exhibit intense yellow emission, promising white light generation when paired with InGaN blue LED chips. Sm3+ doped samples show orange-red emission around 601 nm, attributed to multipole-multipole interactions, with rapid decay curves suitable for high-speed response LEDs. Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) values were computed to assess the commercial viability of these phosphors in luminescence applications and the role of lighting in the growth of indoor plants and office spaces is discussed. The Sr2Y7.8Dy0.2(SiO4)6O2 phosphor with remarkable quantum yield of 63.56% demonstrated a thermal stability of 0.27 eV with enhanced sensitivity of about 0.39% K−1 and Sr2Y7.8Sm0.2(SiO4)6O2 with stability around 0.31eV with sensitivity of 1.11% K⁻¹ at 100K reveals them as potential candidates for optical temperature sensing. These results declare the competence of synthesized novel silicate apatites in solid-state lighting and optical thermometry.