A Highly Luminous LiCaPO₄:Eu²⁺ Phosphor Synthesized by a Solution Method Employing a Water-Soluble Phosphate Ester

A LiCaPO 4 :Eu 2+ phosphor with high photoluminescence was synthesized using a polymerizable complex (PC) method employing a water-soluble polyethylene glycol-conjugated phosphate ester (PEG-P). PEG-P could be obtained from a reaction among polyethylene glycol 300, phosphorus pentoxide, and pyrophosphoric acid. The PEG-P prepared was stable in an aqueous condition. A transparent solution and gel were obtained when the PEG-P was used as a source of P during the PC method, whereas the use of H 3 PO 4 caused an undesirable precipitate. The LiCaPO 4 :Eu 2+ obtained via the PC method employing the PEG-P showed higher emission intensity than those synthesized by a solid state reaction method and the PC method employing H 3 PO 4 . The high luminescence properties of the sample synthesized using the PEG-P may be attributed to high homogeneity of constituents in the sample.