Facile synthesis of CaO:Eu3+ and comparative study on the luminescence properties of CaO:Eu3+ and CaCO3:Eu3+

CaO:Eu3+ phosphors were prepared by calcination of CaCO3:Eu3+ nanoparticles. The as-obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and photoluminescent (PL) techniques. The results reveal that the CaO:Eu3+ phosphors obtained by this method have significant advantages over those obtained by the traditional high temperature solid-phase method in terms of phase purity, crystallinity, particle size and luminescence properties. In addition, Eu3+ ions are also used as spectroscopic probe to analyse the relationship between the local crystal structure and the luminescence properties of CaCO3:Eu3+ and CaO:Eu3+. The study indicates that the excitation spectrum of CaO:0.02Eu3+ have the stronger Eu-O charge transfer band (CTB) than that of CaCO3:0.02Eu3+, which enhances the luminescence and makes it more suitable for deep ultraviolet excitation. Finally, the luminescent properties and local structure of CaO:xEu3+ phosphors was also investigated.