Synthesis and luminescence of BiPO4:xEu3+ powders by solid state reaction method

BiPO4:xEu3+ powders were synthesized by a solid state reaction method. The BiPO4:xEu3+ samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), infrared spectra (IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and luminescence spectroscopy. The XRD and IR results reveal that the BiPO4:xEu3+ samples present monoclinic phases. The SEM observations demonstrate that the BiPO4:xEu3+ powders are regular polyhedrons with particle sizes in the range of 50–300 nm. The excitation spectra of BiPO4:xEu3+ samples show that there exist the broad band at 288 nm and many sharp peaks in the wavelength range of 310–550 nm. The emission spectra of BiPO4:xEu3+ samples display the bands associated to the 5D0→7FJ electronic transitions characteristics of the Eu3+ ions at different positions. The concentration quenching will occur when the dosage concentration reached a value of 5 mol%.