Ca sub(9)Sc(PO sub(4)) sub(7):Ce super(3+),Mn super(2+) - A Red-Emitting Phosphor Based on Energy Transfer

A series of novel color-tunable phosphors, Ca sub(9)Sc(PO sub(4)) sub( 7):xCe super(3+),yMn super(2+) (CSP:xCe super(3+),yMn super(2+)), have been synthesized by traditional high-temperature solid-state reactions. The optical properties of CSP:xCe super(3+) and CSP:0.02Ce super(3+),yMn super(2+) were systematically investigated with various spectral technologies. A phosphor with a broad, deep-red emission, CSP:0.02Ce super(3+),0.1Mn super(2+), was prepared by an energy transfer process with the CIE chromaticity coordinates (0.669, 0.307). CSP:Ce super(3+),Mn super(2+) phosphors excited at 254 nm display two broad emission bands: one centered at around 360 nm is assigned to the 5d super(1)-4f super(1) electronic transition of Ce super(3+) ions, and the other at about 650 nm is attributed to the super(4)T sub(1) ( super(4)G) arrow right super(6)A sub(1) ( super(6)S) transition of Mn super(2+) ions. The energy transfer mechanism from Ce super(3+) to Mn super(2+) in the CSP:Ce super(3+),Mn super(2+) samples was discovered to be the dipole-dipole interaction, which was confirmed by the estimated critical distance between Ce super(3+) and Mn super(2+) (13.0 Aa) by the spectral overlap method. Furthermore, the higher thermal stability of CSP:Ce super(3+),Mn super(2+) makes it feasible for a potential application in white-light-emitting diodes (WLEDs). A phosphor with a broad, deep-red emission, Ca sub(9)Sc(PO sub(4)) sub( 7):0.02Ce super(3+),0.1Mn super( 2+) (CSP:0.02Ce super(3+),0.1Mn super(2+)), was prepared by energy transfer from Ce super(3+) to Mn super(2+) through a dipole-dipole interaction. CSP:Ce super(3+),Mn super(2+) phosphors excited at 254 nm emit light in two bands: one at around 360 nm, assigned to the 5d super(1)-4f super(1) transition of Ce super(3+), and the other at about 650 nm, derived from the super(4)T sub(1) ( super(4)G) arrow right super(6)A sub(1) ( super(6)S) transition of Mn super(2+).