Luminescent properties of CaSc2O4:Ce3+ green phosphor for white LED and its optical simulation

Green-emissive Ce3+-doped CaSc2O4 phosphors were synthesized by solid-state method. The water washing process of the as-prepared samples was several times conducted because of severe hydration of unreacted CaO and CaF2 flux residual. The washed CaSc2O4:Ce3+ phosphors showed a single phase with a crystallite size of 1–3 μm, and its photoluminescence intensity was 10% improved compared with the as-prepared. It shows the broad 450 nm excitation peak and the green emission peak at 520 nm with a half width of 105 nm. Its temperature dependence showed the similar thermal stability with a commercial silicate phosphor. The optical simulation and the real fabrication of white LEDs with a combination of our green phosphor and one of possible orange-red phosphors demonstrated that the white LED with Sr3SiO5:Eu2+ orange phosphor gives the best luminous efficacy and the appropriate color rendering index of 70 under the daylight color temperature of 6400 K.