A promising yellow-emitting langbeinite-type phosphor NaBaY₂(PO₄)₃:Eu²⁺ for WLEDs

The development of novel phosphors with excellent luminescence properties for white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) is always a formidable task. Compared with the traditional laborious and aimless "trial and error" experiments, a mineral-inspired prototype strategy can provide an efficient and accurate method. Herein, for the first time, a novel yellow-emitting phosphor NaBaY2(PO4)(3):Eu2+ was discovered using the mineral-inspired prototype strategy and cation substitution method. The phosphor was prepared via the high-temperature solid-state reaction method, and its crystal structure, luminescence properties and potential application for WLEDs were systematically investigated. The NaBaY2(PO4)(3) phase was derived from the K2Mg2(SO4)(3)-type mineral structure and a photoluminescence study revealed that the phosphor can emit bright yellow light with a maximum at 545 nm upon excitation at 351 nm. A WLED lamp was fabricated by the use of a blend of commercial blue-emitting BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+, yellow-emitting NaBaY2(PO4)(3):Eu2+ and red-emitting (Ca, Sr)AlSiN3:Eu2+ phosphors with a 380 nm LED chip. The CIE, CCT, R-a and efficiency of the as-fabricated LEDs were measured to be equal to (0.366, 0.365), 4327 K, 91.2 and 40.8 lm W-1, respectively. These results suggest that NaBaY2(PO4)(3):Eu2+ could be a promising candidate for n-UV WLEDs.