Controlling Blue and Red Light Emissions from Europium (Eu 2+ )/Manganese (Mn 2+ )-Codoped Beta-Tricalcium Phosphate [ β -Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 (TCP)] Phosphors

Tunable light emission from europium (Eu 2+ )/manganese (Mn 2+ )-codoped beta-tricalcium phosphate [ β -Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 (TCP)] has been investigated as a function of the Mn 2+ and Eu 2+ concentrations and annealing temperature. Eu 2+ /Mn 2+ -doped TCP phosphor (Eu/Mn-TCP) was synthesized by coprecipitation method followed by thermal annealing at temperature up to 1100°C. The Eu 2+ /Mn 2+ -doped TCP particles have diameter of about 1 μ m. The light emission from TCP is enhanced in the sample with 7.5 mol.% Mn 2+ and 0.3 mol.% Eu 2+ annealed in Ar + 5% H 2 atmosphere at 1100°C. The blue band at 430 nm is attributed to the 4 f 6 5 d 1 –4 f 7 transition of Eu 2+ . The sharp peak at 660 nm is ascribed to the 4 T 1 – 6 A 1 transition of Mn 2+ in TCP. These results suggest codoping of Eu 2+ /Mn 2+ to TCP phosphor to obtain β -Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 :Eu 2+ ,Mn 2+ phosphors with tunable luminescence, having potential applications in agricultural lighting.