LAUSR

Abstract RbZnPO 4 : x Sm 3+ (0.005 ≤  x  ≤ 0.05) red phosphors were prepared for the first time. The phase purity, luminescence property and thermal stability were systematically determined by employing X-ray diffractometer, excitation and emission spectra and temperature dependent emission spectra. The site occupation of Sm 3+ in RbZnPO 4 was discussed based on the X-ray diffractometer analysis. The electronic structure property of RbZnPO 4 host was studied, which revealed that RbZnPO 4 possessed a direct band gap with band gap value of 3.815 eV. The photoluminescence emission spectra showed that RbZnPO 4 : x Sm 3+ (0.005 ≤  x  ≤ 0.05) could absorb near-ultraviolet light around 404 nm and emit red emissions with dominated peaks at 601 and 647 nm, ascribed to the 4 G 5/2 to 6 H 7/2 and 6 H 9/2 transitions of Sm 3+ ions, respectively. The optimal doping concentration and the critical distance as well as the interaction mechanism of Sm 3+ in RbZnPO 4 were discussed. The interesting temperature sensitive thermal quenching behavior and the related mechanism were studied.