Pressure-assisted combustion synthesis of red-emitting Srln ₂0₄: Eu³⁺ phosphor powders for applications in solid state white lamps

Red-emitting phosphor powders of SrIn₂0₄ activated with Eu³⁺ ions were synthesized by a high pressure assisted combustion method. X-ray diffraction analysis of the crystalline properties of these powders revealed single phase SrIn2O4 for Eu concentrations up to 4 atomic % of Eu. The photo and cathodoluminescence emission spectra of SrIn ₂0₄: Eu³⁺ powder shows bright red emission mainly caused by the ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ intra-shell transition of Eu³⁺. Furthermore, photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectroscopy revealed that an efficient energy transfer from the SrIn₂O₄ host lattice onto the Eu ions is accomplished in addition to the excitation band peaked at λ = 396 nm that directly excites the Eu ions, making this material an excellent candidate for applications in solid state white-emitting lamps.