Synthesis and structural characterization of orange red light emitting Sm3+ activated BiOCl phosphor for WLEDs applications

We report, synthesis of orange red light emitting Sm3+ activated BiOCl phosphors at relatively low temperature (400 °C) and shorter duration of 1 h. Rietveld refined results confirmed that all the compounds crystallized in the tetragonal structure with space group P4/nmm (No. 129). Functional group analysis were carried out by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy. The Photo-luminescent (PL) experiment results reveal that, an intense PL transition at 598 nm (4G5/2 → 6H7/2) corresponds to orange red emission at λex = 408 nm. The maximum emission intensity was observed for BiOCl: Sm3+ (3 mol%) phosphor, above this concentration quenching takes place due to charge exchange with neighboring Sm3+ ions. Time resolved fluorescence spectroscopic result reveals that, the decay curve is bi-exponential in nature and having long lifetime (τ = 0.58 ms). The obtained CIE and CCT values suggest that these phosphors having excellent color purity (∼90%) and low correlated color temperature. These results suggest that, Sm3+ activated BiOCl can be a potential red phosphor materials for WLEDs and other optoelectronics applications. •Series of Sm3+ ions activated BiOCl phosphors were synthesised by the solid state method.•Concentration dependent PL and quenching effects of Bi1-xSmxOCl phosphors were determined.•CIE, CCT, color purity, quantum efficiency and other spectroscopic properties have been evaluated.•These orange red phosphors can act as a promising candidate for opto-electronic and WLEDs applications.