A promising red-emitting phosphor for white light emitting diodes prepared by sol–gel method

Gd2−xEux(MoO4)3 red phosphors were prepared by the sol–gel (SG) process. Differential thermal analysis (DTA), thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and photoluminescence (PL) spectra were used to characterize the resulting phosphors. The influence of the synthesis method on the luminescence properties was studied by comparing the optical performances of samples by sol–gel processing and solid-state reaction (SR). On the basis of X-ray powder diffraction, SEM micrograph and photoluminescence measurements, SG appeared to be the most efficient method to prepare high-quality compounds for practical applications. In addition, the effects of annealing temperature, time and Eu3+ doping concentration on the PL intensities were also investigated in detail.