A novel red-emitting phosphor Ca9Bi(PO4)7:Eu3+ for near ultraviolet white light-emitting diodes

Red phosphors Ca₉Bi_1-x(PO₄)₇:xEu³⁺ (x = 0.06, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40, 0.50, 0.60, 0.70, 0.80 and 1.00) were synthesized by a conventional solid-state reaction (SSR) route. The X-ray diffraction patterns, photoluminescence spectra, ultraviolet–visible reflection spectroscopy, decay time and the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) chromaticity coordinates of these compounds were characterized and analyzed. The Eu-doped Ca₉Bi(PO₄)₇ phosphors exhibited strong red luminescence which peaks located at 615 nm due to the ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ electric dipole transition of Eu³⁺ ions after excitation at 393 nm. Ultraviolet–visible spectra indicated that the band-gap of Ca₉Bi_0.30(PO₄)₇:0.70Eu³⁺ is larger than that of Ca₉Bi(PO₄)₇. The results indicate that the phosphor Ca₉Bi_0.30(PO₄)₇:0.70Eu³⁺ can be a suitable red-emitting phosphor candidate for LEDs.