Photoluminescence Properties of Efficient Blue-Emitting Phosphor α-Ca1.65Sr0.35SiO4:Ce(3+): Color Tuning via the Substitutions of Si by Al/Ga/B.

A series of Ce(3+)-doped α-Ca1.65Sr0.35SiO4 (CSSO) phosphors without and with the substitutions of Si by Al/Ga/B were synthesized via the high-temperature solid-state reaction process. X-ray diffraction patterns and Rietveld refinements were used to demonstrate the successful incorporations of Al/Ga/B into CSSO:Ce(3+). Without Al/Ga/B, the Ce(3+) singly doped CSSO phosphors present intense blue emission, which correspond to the broad emission bands in visible region with the wavelength range from 360 to 580 nm upon 350 nm excitation. The optimal emission intensity occurs in CSSO:0.05Ce(3+) sample with the emission peak wavelength at 436 nm. With the introduction of Al/Ga/B into the CSSO:0.05Ce(3+), the emission peak shifts from 436 to 457/465/446 nm under 365 nm excitation, respectively. The red shift of Ce(3+) emission is attributed to the polyhedral distortion of the cations, resulting in the enhancement of crystal field spitting due to the variations of the adjacent (Al/Ga/B,Si)O4 polyhedron. Moreover, the temperature-dependent photoluminescence was determined to be of light impact to CSSO:Ce(3+) with the introduction of Al/Ga/B. This research is useful for enriching the emission colors of Ce(3+)-activated phosphors.