Facile one-step synthesis and luminescent properties of red-emitting Ca2Si5N8:Eu2+ phosphors

Ca2Si5N8:Eu2+ phosphors have been synthesised in a facile one-step route using raw materials including α-Si3N4, CaCO3, Ca(CH3COO)2 and Eu2O3. Compared with the prevailing conventional methods, an inexpensive and simple method under atmospheric pressure with a relative short reaction time is achieved. The reaction process is optimised to obtain Ca2Si5N8:Eu2+ phosphors with high crystallinity and purity. The phosphors exhibit a red emission peaking at 592 nm under a blue light radiation and show a broad excitation band between 250 and 550 nm. The characteristics of broad excitation band and red emission imply a promising application in blue light-based red light-emitting diode and white light-emitting diode (LED). These results indicate a promising prospect for the efficient and economic route in preparing Ca2Si5N8:Eu2+ phosphors for LED applications.