Synthesis and luminescence properties of CaZr₄(PO₄)₆ : RE (RE = Eu³⁺,Dy³⁺) orthophosphate phosphor for n-UV solid-state lighting prepared by solid state synthesis

CaZr₄(PO₄)₆: RE (RE = Eu³⁺,Dy³⁺) phosphor has been synthesised successfully via solid-state synthesis. Phase purity, bonding type, and morphological behaviour of prepared phosphor were evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The X-ray diffraction pattern showed no impurity phases or peaks and matched perfectly with the standard data from ICSD File Number 1,534,357. Various vibrational bands that are representative of various chemical vibrations can be seen in the FTIR spectrum. The prepared phosphors have dimensions of particle size in the region of micrometres.Two characteristic bands are observed in the photoluminescence (PL) excitation spectra of CaZr₄(PO₄)₆:Eu³⁺, with wavelengths of about 394 nm and 465 nm. The PL emission spectra shows emission bands centred at about 593 nm and 615 nm when subjected to excitation wavelengths of 395 nm and 466 nm. When excited at 350, 365, and 387 nm, the CaZr₄(PO₄)₆:Dy³⁺ phosphor showed two emission bands centred at 484 nm (Blue) and 573 nm (Yellow). The prepared phosphor could become useful in n-UV solid-state lighting applications.