Luminescence property and emission enhancement of YbAlO3:Mn4+ red phosphor by Mg2+ or Li+ ions

• YbAlO3:Mn4+, Li+/Mg2+ phosphor are synthesized by solid-state reaction method in air.
• PL band peaking at 677 nm is observed with excitation 318 and 470 nm.
• The possible luminous mechanism of Mn4+ ion is analyzed by the simple energy level diagram.
• PL intensity of YbAlO3:Mn4+ phosphor is enhanced observably by codoping Mg2+ and Li+ ions.

YbAlO3:Mn4+, YbAlO3:Mn4+, Li+, and YbAlO3:Mn4+, Mg2+ phosphors are synthesized by high temperature solid-state reaction method in air. Their crystal structures and luminescence properties are investigated. Photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectrum monitored at 677 nm contains broad PLE band with three PLE peaks located at ∼318, 395, and 470 nm within the range 220–600 nm. Emission spectra with excitation 318 and 470 nm exhibit three emission band peaks located at ∼645, 677, and 700 nm in the range of 610–800 nm and their corresponding chromaticity coordinates are about (x = 0.6942, y = 0.3057). The possible luminous mechanism of Mn4+ ion is analyzed by the simple energy level diagram of Mn4+ ion. The optimum Mn4+-doped concentration in YbAlO3:Mn4+ phosphor is about 0.4 mol% and the luminescence lifetime of YbAlO3:0.4%Mn4+ phosphor is ∼0.59 ms. Emission intensity of YbAlO3:0.4%Mn4+ phosphor can be enhanced ∼6 times after Mg2+ ion is co-doped and it is ∼2 times when Li+ ion is co-doped. The content in the paper is useful to research new Mn4+-doped luminescence materials and improve luminescence property of other Mn4+-doped phosphors.