Highly enterprising calcium zirconium phosphate [CaZr4(PO4)6:Dy3+, Ce3+] phosphor for white light emission

A series of CaZr 4 (PO 4 ) 6 :Dy 3+ , CaZr 4 (PO 4 ) 6 :Ce 3+ and CaZr 4 (PO 4 ) 6 :Dy 3+ , Ce 3+ phosphors were prepared by the solid state reaction process. The phase formation was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) measurements. Morphological studies were performed using scanning electron microscopy. Raman spectra were studied to identify the scattering bands associated with the normal vibrational modes of the PO 4 3− tetrahedron. The photoluminescence properties of the phosphors were systematically investigated. With increasing Dy 3+ concentration in CaZr 4 (PO 4 ) 6 :Dy 3+ phosphor, the luminescence intensity first increases, reaches the maximum, and then decreases. A similar trend is followed by CaZr 4 (PO 4 ) 6 :Ce 3+ phosphors, with increasing Ce 3+ concentration. A successful attempt was made to initiate the energy transfer mechanism from Ce 3+ to Dy 3+ ions in the CaZr 4 (PO 4 ) 6 host lattice. The CIE chromaticity coordinates of CaZr 4 (PO 4 ) 6 :Dy 3+ phosphor exhibited emission near the white-light region and hence, it is a potential candidate for UV excited white-LEDs (WLEDs). CaZr 4 (PO 4 ) 6 :Dy 3+ , Ce 3+ phosphor has its CIE chromaticity coordinates in the white light region, near the standard illuminant D 65 . Thermoluminescence (TL) studies on CaZr 4 (PO 4 ) 6 :Dy 3+ , Ce 3+ phosphor, which was performed to test its stability against low dose of gamma-ray exposure, are also documented. A series of CaZr 4 (PO 4 ) 6 :Dy 3+ , CaZr 4 (PO 4 ) 6 :Ce 3+ and CaZr 4 (PO 4 ) 6 :Dy 3+ , Ce 3+ phosphors were prepared by the solid state reaction process.