Investigation of structural, microstructural and optical properties of Ca3B2O6:Sm3+ downshifting phosphor

The phosphor material, Ca₃B₂O₆:Sm³⁺ ions were synthesized using a combustion method and studied their structural, microstructural, surface and optical properties. The structural and microstructural analysis were performed using X-ray diffraction and Field Emission Scanning Electron microscope (FE-SEM). The surface analysis was studied using FTIR. The optical analysis was carried out using UV –absorption,and photoluminescence (PL) emission and excitation spectra, and decay time. Also, FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of bending vibration of the BO₃ group on its surface. Further, the estimated energy band of the host was found to be 5.43 eV.The PL Ca₃B₂O₆:Sm³⁺ phosphor exhibited distinct emission peaks observed at 566 nm, 602 nm, 651 nm, and 715 under excitation at 405 nm. Dexter's suggested the observed concentration quenching was due to the dipole-dipole interaction while the decay analysis depicted that the observed decay time was τ = 2.0108msfor Ca₃B₂O₆:Sm³⁺ phosphor. The results suggest that Ca₃B₂O₆: Sm³⁺ can be an efficient phosphor for producing red element in white light solid-state diodes.