Use of LiF flux in the preparation of Ca3Sc2Si3O12:Ce3+ phosphor by sol-combustion method

•SC method with LiF flux can decrease the sintering temperature by 400–500 °C.•Lower sintering temperature results in more uniform morphology.•The photoluminescence intensity of the phosphor becomes stronger.•The thermal quenching property of the phosphor was improved.•The prepared phosphor is confirmed to be a promising candidate used for WLEDs.

LiF flux was added when prepare Ca3Sc2Si3O12:Ce3+ phosphors with sol-combustion method using urea as a fuel and chelating agent. Investigation of phase, morphology and photoluminescence of the phosphors reveals that this kind of method can decrease the phase-forming temperature by 400–500 °C and the phosphors show more uniform morphology and more excellent photoluminescence properties compared to conventional solid-state method. As one of the most important parameters for phosphors used in white light emitting diodes, the thermal quenching properties of the prepared samples are compared and discussed. The fabrication of single-color light emitting diodes show the Ca3Sc2Si3O12:Ce3+ phosphor prepared by sol-combustion method with LiF flux can be considered as a more promising high efficiency candidate used for white light emitting diodes than the phosphor made by solid-state method.