Thermally stable orange-red emitting Ba2SiO4:Sm3+ phosphor: Synthesis and luminescence properties

A series of powder phosphors with the composition of Ba 2-x Sm x SiO 4 are successfully synthesized by the solid-state reaction method in air. The X-ray powder diffraction patterns , energy disperse spectroscopy spectrum, elemental mapping images, decay curves, and luminescence properties are investigated. The excitation spectrum of Ba 2 SiO 4 :Sm 3+ phosphor monitored at 598 nm is observed in the region from 200 to 525 nm with some distinct excitation peaks. The emission spectral bands of Ba 2 SiO 4 :Sm 3+ phosphor with excitation at 402 nm are shown in the range of 425–750 nm due to the 4 G 5/2  →  6 H 5/2 , 4 G 5/2  →  6 H 7/2 , 4 G 5/2  →  6 H 9/2 , and 4 G 5/2  →  6 H 11/2 transitions of Sm 3+ ions, respectively. The optimal Sm 3+ ion doping concentration is ~10 mol% in Ba 2 SiO 4 :xSm 3+ phosphor. The concentration quenching mechanism is the electric multipole interaction. Ba 2 SiO 4 :Sm 3+ phosphor has a good thermal stability and the thermal activation energy ( E a ) value is ~0.2707 eV.