Efficient rare-earth free red-emitting Ca2YSbO6:Mn4+,M(M = Li+, Na+, K+, Mg2+) phosphors for white light-emitting diodes.

Owing to its low-cost and satisfactory luminescent-emission performance in warm white light-emitting diodes (w-LEDs), the non-rare-earth Mn4+-activated red phosphor has become a promising competitor of commercial rare-earth doped phosphor. In this study, a series of novel red-light emitting phosphors based on Ca2YSbO6:Mn4+ have been developed successfully by a conventional solid-state reaction. The structural and luminescent properties of these phosphors are systematically investigated. The as-prepared Ca2YSbO6:Mn4+ product exhibits a broad excitation band ranging from 250 to 600 nm and an abnormal intense deep-red emission centered at 680 nm with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of ∼46 nm. The optimal Mn4+ doping concentration is about 0.3 mol%, and the concentration quenching mechanism is determined to be a dipole-dipole interaction. Impressively, the Ca2YSbO6:0.003Mn4+ phosphor shows an outstanding quantum efficiency of 62.6% and an excellent thermal stability. In addition, the effect of Li+, Mg2+, Na+ and K+ dopants on the luminescent properties of Mn4+-doped Ca2YSbO6 phosphors is elucidated. Furthermore, by employing the as-prepared Ca2YSbO6:Mn4+ as a red component, a warm w-LED with high color rendering index (Ra = 87.5) and low correlated color temperature (CCT = 3255 K) can be acquired. It is believed that the present phosphor has a potential application as a supplement of the red component for warm w-LEDs.