Synthesis and Photoluminescence Properties of a Blue-Emitting La3Si8N11O4:Eu2+ Phosphor.

Eu2+-doped La3Si8N11O4 phosphors were synthesized by the high temperature solid-state method, and their photoluminescence properties were investigated in this work. La3Si8N11O4:Eu2+ exhibits a strong broad absorption band centered at 320 nm, spanning the spectral range of 300-600 nm due to 4f7 → 4f65d1 electronic transitions of Eu2+. The emission spectra show a broad and asymmetric band peaking at 481-513 nm depending on the Eu2+ concentration, and the emission color can be tuned in a broad range owing to the energy transfer between Eu2+ ions occupying two independent crystallographic sites. Compared to the Ce3+-doped La3Si8N11O4, the Eu2+-doped one shows a larger thermal quenching, predominantly owing to photoionization. Under 320 nm excitation, the internal and external quantum efficiencies are 44 and 33%, respectively.