Synthesis, energy transfer and luminescence properties of Ca2MgWO6:Sm3+, Bi3+ phosphor

•Novel Ca2MgWO6:Sm3+, Bi3+ phosphor is synthesized by solid-state reaction method in air.•Emission intensity of Ca2MgWO6:Sm3+ phosphor is enhanced ∼2 times after co-doped Bi3+ ion.•Charge compensation and energy transfer may be explained via luminescence properties.•Luminous mechanism is analyzed by energy level diagrams of WO66− group, Sm3+ and Bi3+ ions.

Novel Ca2MgWO6:Sm3+, Bi3+ phosphor is synthesized by solid-state reaction method in air. Host Ca2MgWO6 with excitation 300 nm emits blue light. Ca2MgWO6:Bi3+ phosphor with excitation 300 and 338 nm emits yellow light. Ca2MgWO6:Sm3+ phosphor with excitation 300 nm exhibits tunable emission from blue to red light by increasing Sm3+ doping concentration from 0 to 8 mol%, however, only emits red light with excitation 407 nm. Ca2MgWO6:Sm3+, Bi3+ phosphor with excitation 300 and 338 nm emits red light. The optimal Sm3+ doping concentration is ∼5 mol% in Ca2MgWO6:Sm3+ phosphor. After Bi3+ ion is co-doped, luminescence properties of Ca2MgWO6:Sm3+ phosphor can be improved obviously because of Bi2O3 as fluxing agent role and energy transfer from Bi3+ to Sm3+ ions. The possible luminous mechanism of Ca2MgWO6:Sm3+, Bi3+ phosphor is analyzed and explained by simplified energy level diagrams of WO66− group, Bi3+ and Sm3+ ions.

Graphical abstractPL spectra of Ca2MgWO6:Sm3+ and Ca2MgWO6:Sm3+, Bi3+ phosphors with excitation at 407 nm, and the corresponding CIE chromaticity diagram and chromaticity coordinates.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide