Orange–red light emitting europium-doped calcium molybdate phosphor prepared by high-energy ball milling

Europium-doped calcium molybdates (CaMoO4:Eu3+) were successfully synthesized by a high-energy ball milling method. The x-ray diffraction patterns confirmed their powellite structure, and the field emission scanning electron microscope image exhibited the spherical particles with submicron size. The photoluminescence (PL) properties of Eu3+ in these phosphors were also studied by analyzing the excitation and emission spectra for the effect of europium concentration. The CaMoO4:Eu3+ PL excitation and PL spectra show charge transfer band and several transition peaks correlated with host lattice band gap and f-f transitions of Eu3+, respectively. By sintering Ca0.95MoO4:0.05Eu3+ phosphor at 1200°C, PL intensity has a maximum value at 618 nm with Commision Internationale de I’Eclairage 1931 (CIE 1931) chromaticity coordinates (0.609, 0.343).