Li+ Ion Induced Full Visible Emission in Single Eu2+-Doped White Emitting Phosphor: Eu2+ Site Preference Analysis, Luminescence Properties, and WLED Applications

A series of Eu 2+ single doped Ca 9 Na 1– x Li x Sc 0.667 (PO 4 ) 7 phosphors with full-spectrum emission have been synthesized. Under the 385 nm excitation, the Eu 2+ single doped Ca 9 NaSc 0.667 (PO 4 ) 7 without Li + doping displays a broad cold white light emission with the peaks at about 480 and 610 nm. With the introduction of Li + ions, the Eu 2+ ions selectively occupy the Ca1, Ca2/Ca3, and Na sites. The variation of local environment of Eu 2+ ions caused by Li + ions enhances the luminous intensity, solves the problem of the lack of a red light component, and realizes the emission color tuning from cold white via warm white to orange. A special charge compensation method caused by Li + migration avoids the generation of defects and is beneficial to the improvement of luminescence properties. Eventually, a warm white light-emitting diode device is prepared by combining the white emitting Ca 9 Na 0.8 Li 0.2 Sc 0.667 (PO 4 ) 7 :2%Eu 2+ phosphors with 385 nm LED chip, which exhibits a high color-rendering of 92.9, low correlated color temperatures of 4529 K, and excellent color stability under working temperature. The as-reported warm white emitting Eu 2+ -doped phosphors have potential applications in full-spectrum solid-state lighting. The site engineering strategy provides an extensive guide for optimizing and designing novel single-composition white-emitting phosphor materials.