Effect of the replacement of Zn²⁺ with Mg²⁺ in Ca₁₄Zn₆Ga₁₀O_35:Mn⁴⁺

Abstract

To obtain applicable red phosphor for plant lighting, a series of Ca14Zn6-xMgxGa9.86O35:0.14Mn4+ phosphors were synthesized by a conventional high-temperature solid-state method. The XRD, SEM, excitation and emission spectra, temperature-dependent emission spectra, decay time, internal quantum efficiency and luminous efficiency are investigated with the change of the doping concentration of Mg2+. The experiment results suggest that the luminescence properties and quantum efficiency of the phosphor can by improved by replacing Zn2+ with Mg2+ at appropriate doses, while the thermal resistance performance and decay time declined, and the internal quantum efficiency and luminous efficiency reached its maximum, when the Mg2+ concentration is 0.40. Ultimately, the appropriate doping concentration of Mg2+ was determined at x = 0.40, in which case, the phosphor has a promising application in future plant lighting.