Luminescence properties of Eu3+-doped Na3Gd(PO4)2 red-emitting nanophosphors for LEDs

•Na3Gd(PO4)2 phosphor prepared by the modified citrate gel combustion technique.•Na3Gd(PO4)2:Eu3+ phosphors emit intense red luminescence under 382 nm excitation.•Decay curves are well fitted to single exponential function for all concentrations.

Eu3+-doped Na3Gd(PO4)2 phosphors were synthesized by the modified citrate gel combustion technique. From the XRD pattern, structure of the compound was found to be orthorhombic with a particle size of 10–20 nm. The emission spectra revealed that the Na3Gd(PO4)2:Eu3+ phosphors can be excited effectively by 394 nm pump wavelength. From the concentration dependent photoluminescence studies, the optimum concentration for efficient luminescence of Eu3+ ions in Na3Gd(PO4)2 phosphor has been found to be 1.5 mol%. Decay curves of the 5D0 level of Eu3+ ions were recorded by monitoring the emission at 596 nm corresponding to 5D0 → 7F1 transition and are found to be single exponential for all the concentrations. The chromaticity properties for different concentrations of Na3Gd(PO4)2:Eu3+ nanophosphors were calculated from emission spectra and analyzed in the frame work of CIE color diagram.

Graphical abstractEu3+-doped Na3Gd(PO4)2 phosphors synthesized by the modified citrate gel combustion technique. The emission spectra revealed that the Na3Gd(PO4)2:Eu3+ phosphors can be excited effectively by 394 nm pump wavelength. From the concentration dependent photoluminescence studies, the optimum concentration for efficient luminescence of Eu3+ ions in Na3Gd(PO4)2 phosphor has been found to be 1.5 mol%. The chromaticity properties for different concentrations of Na3Gd(PO4)2:Eu3+ nanophosphors were calculated from emission spectra and analyzed in the frame work of CIE color diagram.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide