Blue luminescence and structural properties of Ce3+-activated phosphosilicate apatite Sr5(PO4)2(SiO4)

Blue-emitting phosphors of the Ce3+-activated phosphosilicate Sr-5(PO4)(2)SiO4 with an apatite structure were prepared via a conventional solid-state reaction method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectra, time-resolved luminescence, thermal quenching and luminescence decay curves (lifetimes) were applied to characterize the phosphors. The effects of the Ce3+ activator concentration on the phase evolution and luminescence properties were investigated. Sr-5-Ce-5x(5x)(PO4)(2)SiO4 (x = 0.03) exhibits the brightest blue emission with CIE coordinates of (x = 0.185, y = 0.165) and a quantum efficiency of 46%. The crystallographic site of the Ce3+ ions in the Sr-5(PO4)(2)SiO4 lattice was identified and discussed. There is only one distinguishable crystallographic Ce3+ site occupied on a Sr(II) site in the Sr-5(PO4)(2)SiO4 lattices, which results in a typical doublet emission band. The wavelengths of the excitation and emission bands show a red shift with increasing Ce3+ doping concentration. The luminescence features of the Ce3+ ions were discussed on the base of the crystal structure. The thermal stability of the blue-emitting phosphors was evaluated by the temperature-dependent luminescence and the activation energy of the thermal quenching.