Synthesis, characterization and photoluminescence properties of Bi3+ co-doped CaSiO3:Eu3+ nanophosphor

• We present a facile low temperature method for synthesis of CaSiO3 doped with Eu3+.
• Influence of Bi3+ on Eu3+ emission is investigated.
• CaSiO3:Eu3+ red phosphor’s emission properties greatly enhances with Bi3+ addition.
• Energy transfer mechanism was proposed for Bi3+→Eu3+.

Ceramic luminescent powders with the composition Ca0.96−xEu0.04BixSiO3 (x = 0.01–0.05) were prepared by solution combustion method. The nanopowders are characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and photoluminescence (PL) techniques. PXRD patterns of calcined (950 °C for 3 h) Ca0.96−xEu0.04BixSiO3 powders exhibit monoclinic phase with mean crystallite sizes ranging from 28 to 48 nm. SEM micrographs show the products are foamy, agglomerated and fluffy in nature due to the large amount of gases liberated during combustion reaction. TEM micrograph shows the crystalline characteristics of the nanoparticles. Upon 280 nm excitation, the photoluminescence of the Ca0.96−xEu0.04BixSiO3 particles show red emission at 611 nm corresponding to 5D0→7F2 transition. It is observed that PL intensity increases with Bi3+ concentration. Our work demonstrates very interesting energy transfer from Bi3+ to Eu3+ in CaSiO3 host.

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