Eu3+‐activated Y2MoO6: a narrow band red‐emitting phosphor with strong near‐UV absorption

Near‐UV excited narrow line red‐emitting phosphors, Eu³⁺‐activated Y₂MoO₆ systems, were synthesized using a simple molten salt reaction. The structure and photoluminescence characteristics were investigated using X‐ray powder diffraction, UV–Vis absorption and fluorescent spectrophotometry. The excitation spectra show strong broad‐band absorptions in the near‐UV to blue light regions which match the radiation of near‐UV light‐emitting diode chips well. Under excitation of either near‐UV or blue light, intense red emission with a main peak of 611 nm is observed, ascribed to the ⁵D₀–⁷F₂ transition of Eu³⁺ ions; the optimal doping concentration is 20 mol%. The chromaticity coordinates (x = 0.65, y = 0.34) of the as‐obtained phosphor are very close to the National Television Standard Committee standard values (x = 0.67, y = 0.33). All these characteristics suggest that this material is a promising red‐emitting phosphor candidate for white‐LEDs based on near‐UV LED chips. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.