Luminescence studies of Ba1−xMg2−y(PO4)2:xEu2+, yMn2+ phosphor

The phosphors BaMg2(PO4)2 doped with Eu2+ and Mn2+ solely or doubly were prepared by solid state reaction, and their luminescent properties were also investigated. Under the excitation of 322 nm, it has been observed a broad blue emission band centered at 417 nm and a red emission band centered at about 665 nm, resulting from Eu2+ and Mn2+, respectively. Resonance-type energy transfers from Eu2+ to Mn2+ were discovered by directly overlapping the emission spectra of Eu2+ and the excitation spectra of Mn2+. According to the changes of relative intensities of Eu2+ and Mn2+ emission, efficiencies of energy transfer were calculated. Based on the principle of energy transfer, the relative intensities of blue and red emission could be tuned by adjusting the contents of Eu2+ and Mn2+.

Research highlights▶ The compounds AB2(PO4)2:(A = Ca, Sr, Ba; B = Mg, Zn) have been considered to be efficient luminescent hosts. ▶ No paper has been published on the preparation of Eu2+ and Mn2+ doubly activated BaMg2(PO4)2 phosphors. ▶ Adjusting the concentrations of activator Eu2+ and co-activator Mn2+ could tune the relative intensity of blue and red emission. And the energy transfer in the phosphor BaMg2(PO4)2: Eu2+, Mn2+ has been demonstrated to be a resonant type via a dipole-dipole mechanism.