Preparation and wide band emission characteristics of Eu(2+)/Eu(3+) co-doped Ba(3)P(4)O(13) phosphors

A series of phosphors Ba(3)P(4)O(13):xEu(2+/3+) (x = 0–0.1) were synthesized in a CO reduction atmosphere at a relatively low temperature (1113 K) by the solid-phase method. Crystallization and optical properties were investigated by using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and fluorescence spectrophotometry (PL/PLE), respectively. Under the excitation of 394 nm, the emission spectrum of the phosphor presents a broad spectrum band of Eu(2+) and characteristic peaks of Eu(3+) in the range of 400–750 nm, indicating the coexistence of Eu(2+) and Eu(3+) in the system. The occupation of Eu(2+) and Eu(3+) in the Ba(3)P(4)O(13) matrix position was discussed by Gaussian fitting and PL spectra. The existence of energy transfer between Eu(2+) → Eu(3+) in the system can be found through PL spectra under excitation of 251 nm. The emission color of the phosphor can be adjusted by changing the Eu ion doping concentration, resulting in the CIE color coordinates changing from (0.213, 0.215) blue to (0.249, 0.261) light bluish white. The results show that Ba(3)P(4)O(13):Eu(2+/3+) phosphors can be used as a potential single-doped single-host white light-emitting material.