Synthesis and enhanced photoluminescence of the BaSiF6:Dy3+ phosphors by Li+ doping via combustion method

Undoped BaSiF6, Dy3+ doped BaSiF6, and Dy3+, Li+ co-doped BaSiF6 phosphors were synthesized through a gel-combustion method. The prepared samples were characterized by powder x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and photoluminescence (PL) techniques. The XRD data revealed that both the Dy3+ doped and Li + co-doped BaSiF6 phosphors exhibited a single-phase structure belonging to the space group R3m‾ which matched well with the standard JCPDS files (No. 002–6613). FTIR spectra showed absorption bands at 3417 cm−1, 1640 cm−1, and 1620 cm−1 corresponding to water molecules. EDS analysis confirmed the chemical composition of the prepared samples. The PL emission spectra of BaSiF6:Dy3+ by different co-doping concentrations of Li+ exhibited prominent emission peaks at 490 nm, 572 nm, 672 nm and 758 nm. The incorporation of Li+ is beneficial for enhancing the photoluminescence intensity. The optimum Li+ amount was 8% for BaSiF6:Dy3+ and then started to decrease. The enhancement could be due to the occurrence of oxygen vacancies due to the incorporation of Li + ions. The x = 0.301 and y = 0.361 coordinates of this phosphor with varying Li+ dopant concentration determined by the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE - 1931) were in the white range. The present work demonstrates how a simple and effective method can be used to prepare novel nanophosphors for applications in the field of visible light emitting devices with enhanced white emission.