Intense red light emission of Eu^3+-doped LiGd(PO_3)_4 for mercury-free lamps and plasma display panels application

In order to obtain a suitable red phosphor for mercury-free lamps and plasma display panels (PDPs), samples of trivalent europium-activated polyphosphate LiGd(PO(3))(4):Eu(3+) (LGP:Eu(3+)) were prepared by a solid-state reaction technique at high temperature. The vacuum ultraviolet (VUV)-visible spectroscopic properties were investigated. Because the phosphor LiGd(1-x)Eu(x)(PO(3))(4) for x = 0.50 shows broad and strong absorption in VUV region and exhibits intensive emission under 147/172 nm excitation in comparison with the PDP commercial red phosphor (Y, Gd)BO(3):Eu(3+), it is considered to be a promising red phosphor for mercury-free lamps and plasma display panels application.