Synthesis of Eu3+-doped calcium and strontium carbonate phosphors at room temperature

Red phosphors CaCO3:Eu3+ and SrCO3:Eu3+ have been prepared by co-precipitation with ammonium bicarbonate (NH4HCO3) at room temperature. Pure calcite CaCO3 can be obtained by prolonging the reaction time at 220 degreesC and it decomposes to cubic CaO at 1000 degreesC. Trivalent Eu3+ acts as a luminescent probe to determine both the calcite and the mixed phase of calcite and vaterite phase of CaCO3 host and to analyze its decomposition process. High temperature sintering improved both the crystallization and luminescence of SrCO3:Eu3+ in aragonite phase. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.