Synthesis and luminescence properties of MgO: Sm3+ phosphor for white light-emitting diodes

MgO: xSm3+ (0.02 ≤ x ≤ 0.08) red phosphors are prepared by low temperature solution combustion method. The MgO: XSm3+ phosphor characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT-IR, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), luminescence and decay time measurements. The results of XRD and FE-SEM show that resultant samples are single phase. The vibration properties MgO phosphor was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The luminescence spectra exhibits four emission bands at 566, 603, 651 and 708 nm corresponding to the various transition from 4G5/2 ground state to lower lying levels 6H5/2, 6H7/2, 6H9/2 and 6H11/2 states, with an excitation wavelength at 404 nm. The chromaticity coordinates have been estimated from the emission spectra and the suitability of title phosphor for white light applications. The lifetime corresponding to the 4G5/2 level of the title phosphor has been found to decrease with the increase in Sm3+ ion concentration.