Microwave-promoted pure host phase for red emission CaS：Eu2＋ phosphor from single CaSO4 precursor and the photoluminescence property

We report a novel approach to obtaining a classical blue-green excitable CaS：Eu2＋ phosphor with desired red emission by microwave （MW） firing procedure in the absence of adding elemental sulphur. The disturbing effect of MW electro- magnetic field on decomposition of CaSO4 into CaS activated by europium is distinctly observed to give pure host phase without adding any elemental sulphur and carbon. The host phase evolution is observed to be highly dependent on the variation of applied MW power from X-ray diffraction （XRD） patterns and the corresponding photoluminescence （PL）, and a maximum PL intensity at 1100 W of MW power is acquired for the obtained purer host phase. The non-thermal and non-equilibrium effects by MW are revealed to correlate with the interaction between polar structure of the host and applied electromagnetic field. The results demonstrate an optional procedure to prepare this red-emitting phosphor in an effective, environment-friendly and scalable approach for phosphor production in the application of bio-illumination for plant cultivation and artificial photosynthesis.