Luminescence properties of a single-component Na0.34Ca0.66Al1.66Si2.34O8:Ce3+, Sm3+ phosphor with tunable color tone for UV-pumped LEDs

A series of single-phase Na0.34Ca0.66Al1.66Si2.34O8:Ce3+, Sm3+ (NCASO) phosphors have been synthesized via a high temperature solid-state reaction method. The samples were studied based on photoluminescence (PL), photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra and fluorescence decay patterns. The obtained PLE exhibited a strong excitation band in the UV region between 250 and 380 nm. Under 340 nm excitation, NCASO:Ce3+, Sm3+ phosphor showed a broad emission band at 414 nm of Ce3+ and four emission bands from 550 nm to 725 nm of Sm3+. Spectra demonstrate nonradiative energy transfers (ET) occur from Ce3+-Sm3+. The analysis based on Inokuti-Hirayama model indicates that the ET is governed by electric dipole-dipole interaction. Moreover, the emitting colors can be adjusting from blue to white by proper tuning of the relative composition of Ce3+/Sm3+. These results show that NCASO:Ce3+, Sm3+ phosphors can be used as a potential single-phased white-emitting candidate for UV WLEDs.