Luminescence properties of phosphate phosphor Ba₃Y(PO₄)₃:Sm³⁺

A series of reddish orange-emitting phosphate phosphors Ba₃Y_1−x(PO₄)₃:xSm³⁺(0.01≤x≤0.20) were synthesized by solid-state reaction. X-ray diffraction and photoluminescence spectra were utilized to characterize the structure and luminescence properties of as-synthesized phosphors. The optimized phosphors Ba₃Y_0.95(PO₄)₃:0.05Sm³⁺ present several excitation bands from 300 to 500 nm, and exhibit intense reddish orange-emitting properties. The energy transfer type between Sm³⁺ ions was confirmed as d–d interaction by using Van Uitert model. The chromatic properties of the typical sample Ba₃Y(PO₄)₃:0.05Sm³⁺ phosphor have been found to have chromaticity coordinates of (0.583, 0.405), which are located in reddish orange region under the excitation of 401 nm. These results indicated that Ba₃Y(PO₄)₃:Sm³⁺ phosphors have potential applications in the field of lighting and display due to their effective excitation in the near-ultraviolet range. - Graphical abstract: The color coordinates for 5 mol% Sm³⁺ doped Ba₃Y(PO₄)₃ phosphor were calculated to be (0.583, 0.405), which are located in reddish orange region under the excitation of 401 nm. The peaks of Ba₃Y_0.95(PO₄)₃:0.05Sm³⁺ phosphor with the highest emission intensity at 600 nm are broader than those of Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺ and Y₂O₂S:Eu³⁺ phosphors. All these characteristics suggest that Ba₃Y(PO₄)₃:Sm³⁺ phosphors are suitable for near-UV (370–410 nm) excitation and can be applicable to near UV-based WLEDs. ▪ - Highlights: • Different concentration Sm³⁺-doped Ba₃Y(PO₄)₃ phosphors were fabricated by solid state method. • The optimized phosphors present the several excitation bands from 300 to 500 nm. • The Ba₃Y(PO₄)₃:Sm³⁺ shows bright reddish orange emissions under 401 nm excitation