Photoluminescence study of KMgSO4F:X (X=Cu+ or Dy3+ or Eu3+) halosulfate phosphor

•New phosphors Cu, Dy and Eu doped KMgSO4F have been investigated.•KMgSO4F has been studied for its PL characteristics.•The trivalent europium ion is useful for studying the nature of metal coordination in various systems.•The results present monovalent Cu and trivalent Dy and Eu emission in new KMgSO4F sulfate host by wet chemical method.

Photoluminescence (PL) from Cu+, Dy3+and Eu3+ doped KMgSO4F halosulfate fluoride phosphors have been investigated and synthesized by the wet chemical method. Strong emission of KMgSO4F: Cu+ phosphor is assigned to electronic transition 3d94s1→3d10. Emission bands peaking at 442 nm and 462 nm in the green region of the spectrum. Dy3+ emission is observed at 484 and 576 nm in KMgSO4F host due to 4F9/2→6H15/2 and 4F9/2→6H13/2 transitions respectively. The emission has a yellow-orange color in KMgSO4F host lattice The presence of trivalent Eu in KMgSO4F suggest the presence of Eu3+ in the host compound occupying two different lattice sites which is peaking at 593 and 616 nm showing 5D0→7F1 and 5D0→7F2 transitions respectively. The trivalent europium ion is very useful for studying the nature of metal coordination in various systems owing to its non-degenerate emitting 5D0 state. The paper discusses the photoluminescence of Cu+, Dy3+and Eu3+ in KMgSO4F matrix by a simple method.