Intense red light emission of Eu3+-doped LiGd(PO3)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(PO3)(4):Eu3+ (LGP:Eu3+) were prepared by a solid-state reaction technique at high temperature. The vacuum ultraviolet (VUV)-visible spectroscopic properties were investigated. Because the phosphor LiGd1-xEux(PO3)(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)BO3:Eu3+, it is considered to be a promising red phosphor for mercury-free lamps and plasma display panels application. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America