A Single‐Phase Emission‐Tunable Ca5(PO4)3F:Eu2+,Mn2+ Phosphor with Efficient Energy Transfer for White LEDs

Abstract Eu 2+ /Mn 2+ ‐co‐doped white‐emitting Ca 5 (PO 4 ) 3 F phosphors have been synthesized by a combustion‐assisted synthesis method. The PXRD patterns confirmed the single‐phase fluorapatite crystal structure for all the samples independently of their substitution level. Their luminescence properties reveal that the developed phosphors can efficiently convert UV light in a broad range from 250 to 420 nm into tunable white emission. Based on the luminescence spectra and fluorescence decay curves, we can confirm that energy transfer from the Eu 2+ to Mn 2+ ions takes place in the Ca 5 (PO 4 ) 3 F:Eu 2+ ,Mn 2+ phosphors, and that the energy‐transfer efficiency increases with increasing Mn 2+ content. The emission colors of the obtained phosphors can be tuned from blue to white and eventually to yellow by controlling the doping content of the Eu 2+ and Mn 2+ ions. These results suggest that these phosphors are potential single‐component white‐light phosphors for n‐UV‐pumped white LEDs.