Synthesis and characterization of white light emitting Ca_xSr_1-xAl_2O_4:Tb^3+,Eu^3+ phosphor for solid state lighting

A white light emitting CaxSr1-xAl2O4:Tb3+;Eu3+ phosphor was synthesized by a combustion method using metal nitrates as precursors and urea as a fuel. The X-ray diffraction patterns from the samples showed phases associated with monoclinic structures of CaAl2O4 and SrAl2O4. White photoluminescence with the CIE coordinates (x = 0.343, y = 0.325) was observed when the phosphor was optically-excited at 227 nm using a monochromatized xenon lamp. The white photoluminescence was a result of the combination of blue and green line emissions from Tb3+, and red line emission from Eu3+. The structure and photoluminescence properties of this phosphor are reported.