Blue persistent luminescence in Eu2+ doped Ca3Mg3(PO4)4

• The persistent luminescence in Ca3−xMg3(PO4)4:xEu2+ was reported.
• Ca2.99Mg3(PO4)4:0.01Eu2+shows the best performance.
• An energy level scheme was depict to elucidate the trapping and detrapping processes.

Ca3−xMg3(PO4)4:xEu2+ persistent phosphors were successfully synthesized by solid-state reaction method. The persistent phosphors were investigated by XRD, diffuse reflectance, photoluminescence, persistent luminescence and thermoluminescence spectra. When irradiated in advance with ultraviolet light, this phosphor shows a broad-band persistent luminescence located at ∼433 nm at room temperature. The effects of the concentration of Eu2+ ions on the photoluminescence as well as persistent luminescence of Ca3−xMg3(PO4)4:xEu2+ were investigated. An energy level scheme was constructed to convey reasonable trapping and detrapping processes in the material.