Structure and luminescence properties of La(6)Ba(4)(SiO(4))(6)F(2):Dy(3+) phosphor with apatite structure

In this study, we investigated the structure, luminescence properties and morphology of La(6)Ba(4)(SiO(4))(6)F(2):Dy(3+) in detail using X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and decay kinetics measurements. The results indicate that La(6)Ba(4)(SiO(4))(6)F(2):Dy(3+) was well crystallized, and its structure is of apatite-type and belongs to the hexagonal system. The prepared samples exhibit two intense characteristic bands in the blue (484 nm) and yellow (579 nm) spectral ranges corresponding to the Dy(3+) transitions (4)F(9/2) → (6)H(15/2) and (4)F(9/2) → (6)H(13/2), respectively. These dominant photoluminescence bands are accompanied by a weak red band (670 nm) due to the (4)F(9/2) → (6)H(11/2) transition. The emission color of La(6)Ba(4)(SiO(4))(6)F(2):Dy(3+) phosphors are found to fall in the white light region. The Dy(3+) optimal dopant concentration in the La(6)Ba(4)(SiO(4))(6)F(2) host was found to be 0.12 (mol). In addition, the phosphors have high thermal stability. Hence, La(6)Ba(4)(SiO(4))(6)F(2):Dy(3+) may have an application in white light-emitting diodes.