Enhanced photoluminescence in RE (Eu3+ , Ce3+ and Sm3+ )-activated Ca10 (PO4 )F2 phosphors by double or triple ionized mineral doping: a comparative study.

In this work, RE3+ (Eu, Ce and Sm)-activated Ca10 (PO4 )6 F2 (fluorapatite) phosphors were synthesized by doping with different apatite minerals (SO4 , VO4, WO4 ) using a solid-state diffusion method. Optical and structural characterizations were performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. XRD characterization showed the crystalline nature of the phosphor. PL properties were investigated under ultraviolet light excitation for all three rare earths. CIE chromaticity revealed the colour emitted in the visible region. Luminescence intensity was enhanced considerably by tuning the host matrices after core-shell formation by substitution with other ions producing promising candidates for white light-emitting diode materials.