Controlling Blue and Red Light Emissions from Europium (Eu2+)/Manganese (Mn2+)-Codoped Beta-Tricalcium Phosphate [β-Ca3(PO4)2 (TCP)] Phosphors
Tunable light emission from europium (Eu2+)/manganese (Mn2+)-codoped beta-tricalcium phosphate [β-Ca3(PO4)2 (TCP)] has been investigated as a function of the Mn2+ and Eu2+ concentrations and annealing temperature. Eu2+/Mn2+-doped TCP phosphor (Eu/Mn-TCP) was synthesized by coprecipitation method followed by thermal annealing at temperature up to 1100°C. The Eu2+/Mn2+-doped TCP particles have diameter of about 1 μm. The light emission from TCP is enhanced in the sample with 7.5 mol.% Mn2+ and 0.3 mol.% Eu2+ annealed in Ar + 5% H2 atmosphere at 1100°C. The blue band at 430 nm is attributed to the 4f6 5d1–4f7 transition of Eu2+. The sharp peak at 660 nm is ascribed to the 4T1–6A1 transition of Mn2+ in TCP. These results suggest codoping of Eu2+/Mn2+ to TCP phosphor to obtain β-Ca3(PO4)2:Eu2+,Mn2+ phosphors with tunable luminescence, having potential applications in agricultural lighting.