Synthesis and luminescence properties of a novel blue emitting phosphor NaMgPO₄:Eu(2+)

A novel blue-emitting phosphor of Eu(2+)-activated NaMgPO(4) was prepared by combustion-assisted synthesis. Sodium dihydrogen phosphate and magnesium nitrate were used as the source of Na, P and Mg, respectively. The ratios of magnesium and phosphorus components that were dissolved into the combustion solution were changed from 1:1 to 1:1.3. Their effect on the crystallinities and photoluminescence spectra of the phosphor particles were investigated. The post-heated phosphor particles had a broad excitation wavelength that ranged from 240 to 410 nm. The phosphor particles prepared from the combustion solution with a 1:1.2 ratio of magnesium to phosphorus had maximum emission intensity under ultraviolet excitation. The effect of doped Eu(2+) concentration on the emission intensity of PO₄:Eu(2+) was also investigated.