Synthesis and luminescent properties of a novel red-emitting phosphor: Eu3+-activated Ba2ScO3F

A novel red-emitting Ba2ScO3F:Eu3+ phosphor was prepared by high-temperature solid-state reaction method. The structure and luminescence properties of the obtained phosphors were investigated. The crystallographic occupancy of Eu3+ in Ba2ScO3F was studied and verified to be the site of Sc3+ ions. Photoluminescence of the optimized Ba2Sc0.94O3F:0.06Eu3+ phosphor showed that the phosphor can be efficiently excited by ultraviolet (395 nm) and blue (464 nm) light, and exhibits an intense red emission at 612 nm (due to 5D0→7F2 electric dipole transition of Eu3+ ions). The dependence of the luminescence intensity on temperatures was measured, and showed a satisfactory thermal quenching effect. These results suggest that the phosphor could be a potential for applications in w-LEDs.