New Yellow-Emitting Whitlockite-type Structure Sr1.75Ca1.25­(PO4)2:Eu2+ Phosphor for Near-UV Pumped White Light-Emitting Devices

New compound discovery is of interest in the field of inorganic solid-state chemistry. In this work, a whitlockite-type structure Sr1.75Ca1.25­(PO4)2 newly found by composition design in the Sr3(PO4)2–Ca3(PO4)2 join was reported. Crystal structure and luminescence properties of Sr1.75Ca1.25­(PO4)2:Eu2+ were investigated, and the yellow-emitting phosphor was further employed in fabricating near-ultraviolet-pumped white light-emitting diodes (w-LEDs). The structure and crystallographic site occupancy of Eu2+ in the host were identified via X-ray powder diffraction refinement using Rietveld method. The Sr1.75Ca1.25(PO4)2:Eu2+ phosphors absorb in the UV–vis spectral region of 250–430 nm and exhibit an intense asymmetric broadband emission peaking at 518 nm under λex = 365 nm which is ascribed to the 5d–4f allowed transition of Eu2+. The luminescence properties and mechanism are also investigated as a function of Eu2+ concentration. A white LED device which is obtained by combining a 370 nm UV chip with commercial blue phosphor and the present yellow phosphor has been fabricated and exhibit good application properties.