Orange light-emitting Ca3 Mg3 (PO4 )4 :Sm(3+) phosphors.

: This work reports the photoluminescence properties of Ca3 Mg3 (PO4 )4 :Sm3+ phosphors that were synthesized by the combustion method. The phase formation and morphology of the prepared phosphors were analysed by X-ray diffraction studies and scanning electron microscopy. Ca3 Mg3 (PO4 )4 :Sm3+ phosphors give orange light emission when excited by near-ultraviolet (NUV) and blue light. The photoluminescence characteristics of the as-prepared phosphors were investigated and their emission spectra showed three peaks due to 4 G5/2  → 6 H5/2 , 4 G5/2  → 6 H7/2 and 4 G5/2  → 6 H9/2 transitions. The mechanism responsible for the concentration quenching of luminescence was found to be an electric dipole-dipole interaction. The CIE chromaticity coordinates suggested that the prepared phosphors are potential candidates for orange light-emitting diodes (LEDs).