Luminescence properties and crystal structure of Sr3Sc(PO4)3:Sm3+ as novel orange-red emitting phosphors

A series of novel orange-red-emitting phosphors Sr3Sc1-x(PO4)3:xSm3+ was synthesized by high-temperature solid-state reaction method in air atmosphere. The crystal structure, photoluminescence and decay properties of the phosphors were investigated in detail for their applications in white light-emitting diodes. Phase results demonstrated that Sr3Sc1-x(PO4)3:xSm3+ crystallized in a cubic crystal system and the phase structure was represented. The emission spectra of Sr3Sc1-x(PO4)3:xSm3+ samples were composed of four sharp peaks around 566, 603, 649, and 711 nm, respectively. The optimum doping concentration of Sm3+ ions and the mechanism of energy transfer among Sm3+ were also discussed in detail. Sr3Sc0.94(PO4)3:0.06Sm3+ exhibited excellent thermal stability. All the obtained results show that the Sr3Sc1-x(PO4)3:xSm3+ phosphors have considerable potential as orange-red phosphors for applications in the near ultraviolet excited white light emitting diodes.