High luminescent thermal stability and water resistance of K2SiF6:Mn4+@CaF2 red emitting phosphor

K₂SiF₆:Mn⁴⁺ (KSF:Mn⁴⁺), as an efficient red-emitting phosphor, has a promising application in WLEDs (white light-emitting diodes). However, poor moisture resistance performance still hinders its deeper commercialization. Here, KSF:Mn⁴⁺@ CaF₂ with high water resistance and luminescent thermal stability has been prepared though H₂O₂-free hydrothermal method and surface coating process. Both KSF:Mn⁴⁺ and KSF:Mn⁴⁺@CaF₂ all have high luminescent thermal stability, due to negative thermal quenching (NTQ) effect. Mechanism of the NTQ has been discussed and suggested as thermal-light energy conversion mechanism. Compared with KSF:Mn⁴⁺, water resistance of KSF:Mn⁴⁺@CaF₂ is greatly improved by coating of CaF₂, because the outer shell of CaF₂ can effectively prevent the MnF₆]^2- group on the surface of the phosphor from being hydrolyzed into MnO₂. The results of water resistance test shows that after immersing in water for 360 min (6 h), luminescent intensity of the uncoated product drops to 41.68% of the initial one, while that of the coated product remains to have 88.24% of its initial one. Warm white light with good luminescent performances (CCT = 3956 K and Ra = 89.3) is got from prototype WLEDs assembled by using the optimal coated sample. The results suggest that the optimal coated sample has potential application in blue-based warm WLEDs.