Synthesis and photoluminescence in Sr ₃ BiY ₃ B ₄ O ₁₅ : Sm ³⁺ phosphors for opto-electronic applications

To develop light-emitting optical devices, including white light-emitting diodes, a series of Sr3BiY3B4O15: Sm3+ phosphors were prepared using the solid-state reaction method, and their structure, morphology and characteristic photoluminescence were studied in detail. X-ray diffraction results indicate that Sr3BiY3B4O15 exhibited good crystallinity and hexagonal crystal structure, having space group P63(173). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images exhibit agglomerated microstructure composed of irregularly shaped particles ranging from 100 nm to 10 µm. Photoluminescence in the host gives dominant emission at 538 nm corresponding to the 3P1→1S0 transition of Bi3+. Photoluminescence in Sm3+-doped phosphors gives dominant emission at 602 nm corresponding to 4G5/2 →6H7/2 transitions of Sm3+ ions. Concentration quenching occurs at 3.0 mol. % for trivalent Sm ion. CIE colour coordinates observed for the host at (0.12, 0.10) and Sm3+ (0.32, 0.35). The Sr3BiY3B4O15: Sm3+ phosphors have potential applications in LEDs and other optical devices.