Photoluminescence properties of Ca2Al2O5:RE3+ (RE=Eu, Dy and Tb) phosphors for solid state lighting

Ca2Al2O5:Eu3+, Ca2Al2O5:Dy3+ and Ca2Al2O5:Tb3+ phosphors were synthesized using a combustion synthesis method. The prepared phosphors were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction for phase purity, by scanning electron microscopy for morphology, and by photoluminescence for emission and excitation measurements. The Ca2Al2O5:Eu3+ phosphors could be efficiently excited at 396nm and showed red emission at 594nm and 616nm due to (D0F1)-D-5-F-7 and (D0F2)-D-5-F-7 transitions. Dy3+-doped phosphors showed blue emission at 482nm and yellow emission at 573nm. Ca2Al2O5:Tb3+ phosphors showed emission at 545nm when excited at 352nm. Concentration quenching occurred in both Eu3+ and Dy(3+)phosphors at 0.5mol%. Photoluminescence results suggested that the aluminate-based phosphor could be a potential candidate for application in environmentally friendly based lighting technologies.