Novel blue-emitting phosphor NaMg4(PO4)3:Eu2+, Ce3+ with energy transfer

A blue-emitting phosphor of NaMg4(PO4)3:Eu2+, Ce3+ was prepared by a combustion-assisted synthesis method. The phase formation was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction measurement. Photoluminescence excitation spectrum measurements show that the phosphor can be excited by near UV light from 230 to 400 nm and presents a dominant luminescence band centered at 424 nm due to the 4f65d1 → 4f7 transition of Eu2+ ions at room temperature. Effective energy transfer occurs in Ce3+/Eu2+ co-doped NaMg4(PO4)3 due to large spectral overlap between the emission of Ce3+ and excitation of Eu2+. Co-doping of Ce3+ enhances the emission intensity of Eu2+ greatly by transferring its excitation energy to Eu2+, and Ce3+ plays a role as a sensitizer. Ce3+–Eu2+ co-doped NaMg4(PO4)3 powders can possibly be applied as blue phosphors in the fields of lighting and display.

► Novel Eu2+ and Ce3+ co-doped NaMg4(PO4)3 phosphors.
► Enhancement of intensity by Ce3+ codoping.
► Energy transfer from Ce3+ ions to Eu2+ ions.