A red-emitting Ca8MgLa(PO4)7:Ce3+,Mn2+ phosphor for UV-based white LEDs application

Ca(8)MgLa(PO(4))(7):Ce(3+),Mn(2+) phosphors have been prepared by a conventional solid state reaction under a weak reductive atmosphere. The crystal structure and photoluminescent properties were investigated. It was found that the red emission at 640nm originated from the (4)T(1)((4)G)→(6)A(1)((6)S) transition of Mn(2+) increases dramatically by a factor of 6.4 with the optimum Ce(3+) co-doping. The energy transfer from Ce(3+) to Mn(2+) was proposed to be resonance-type via an electric dipole-dipole mechanism and the energy transfer efficiency was also calculated by the relative emission intensity. With the broadband ultraviolet (UV) absorption of Ce(3+) and the suitable color coordinates, Ca(8)MgLa(PO(4))(7):Ce(3+),Mn(2+) phosphors might be a promising candidate as red phosphors in the field of UV-based white light-emitting diodes.