KNaSO4 microphosphor doped with Ce,Gd and Ce,Tb and prepared by a wet chemical method was studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photoluminescence (PL) characterization. KNaSO4 has a 5-µm particle size detected by SEM. KNaSO4:Ce(3+),Tb(3+) showed blue and green emission (at 494 nm, 557 nm, 590 nm) of Tb(3+) due to (5)D(4)  → (7)F(J) (J = 4, 5, 6) transitions. KNaSO4:Ce(3+),Gd(3+) showed luminescence in the ultraviolet (UV) light region at 314 nm for an excitation at 271 nm wavelength. It was observed that efficient energy transfer took place from Ce(3+)  → Gd(3+) and Ce(3+)  → Tb(3+) sublattices indicating that Ce(3+) could effectively sensitize Gd(3+) or Tb(3+) (green emission). Ce(3+) emission weakened and Gd(3+) or Tb(3+) enhanced the emission significantly in KNaSO4. This paper discusses the development and understanding of photoluminescence and the effect of Tb(3+) and Gd(3+) on KNaSO4:Ce(3+).

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The KNaSO4 microphosphor doped with Ce or Ce and Dy prepared by a wet chemical method was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and characterized by photoluminescence (PL). KNaSO4 has a 5-µm particle size detected by SEM. The KNaSO4:Ce(3+) spectrum shows a single emission band at 327 nm for an excitation of 269 nm due to 5d → 4f transition of the Ce(3+) ion, indicating weak spin orbiting coupling of the Ce(3+) ground state. Efficient energy transfer takes place from Ce(3+) → Dy(3+) sublattices indicating that Ce(3+) could effectively sensitize Dy(3+) (orange emission) and that the Ce(3+) emission weakens significantly in KNaSO4. The powder form of prepared KNaSO4 show negligible change in morphologies and hence no effect on the particle size. The characteristics of this powder could provide improved luminescence properties. The development and understanding of this photoluminescence and the effect of Dy(3+) on KNaSO4:Ce(3+) are discussed.