Synthesis and luminescence properties of a novel red Sr3Bi(PO4)3:Sm3+ phosphor

A series of Sr3Bi1–x(PO4)3: xSm3+phosphors were prepared by solid state method at 1250 °C for 4 h. X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that the sample was of a pure phase of Sr3Bi(PO4)3. The main excitation peaks were located at 343 (6H5/2→4H9/2), 360 (6H5/2→4D3/2), 373 (6H5/2→6P7/2), 400 (6H5/2→4F7/2), 414 (6H5/2→6P5/2) and 467 nm (6H5/2→4I13/2). The main emission were located at 563 (4G5/2→6H5/2), 599 (4G5/2→6H7/2), 646 (4G5/2→6H9/2) and 708 nm (4G5/2→6H11/2). The intensest emission was excited by 400 nm. We studied the effect of different doping concentrations of Sm3+ activator on the luminescence properties and found that the luminescent intensity first increased with Sm3+ concentration increasing, and then decreased. The luminescent intensity had the best value when x=0.04. The chromaticity coordinates of the sample Sr3Bi0.96(PO4)3:0.04Sm3+ were (x=0.57, y=0.36), and the lifetime was 2.12 ms.