Ca3 (PO4 )2 :Eu3+ phosphor preparation with different morphologies and their fluorescence properties.

Ca3(PO4)2:Eu(3+) phosphor was prepared using a facile chemistry method in the presence of surfactants. The effects of surfactants on the morphology and photoluminescence properties of Ca3(PO4)2:Eu(3+) phosphor were investigated. The morphology of the phosphor was significantly influenced by the surfactants employed. When nonionic surfactant glyceryl monostearate and anionic surfactant sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate were employed, the phosphor powders are composed of a large number of homogeneous spherical particles with sizes of 0.3-0.6 µm and 2-3 µm, respectively. By contrast, when cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide was used, the morphology of the phosphor is completely different. The product is an excellent cuboid, and the phosphor prepared with 2.5 mmol cetyltrimethylammonium bromide showed higher luminescent intensity than phosphors prepared with the other two types of surfactants.