Microwave-assisted combustion synthesis and characterization studies of novel dysprosium doped yttrium calcium borate (Dy3+: Y2CaB10O19) phosphor materials for efficient white light applications

Abstract

Micro-wave assisted combustion synthesis technique was adopted to synthesize the dysprosium-doped yttrium calcium borate xDy3+: Y(2-x) CaB10O19 (Dy:YCB) polycrystalline phosphor materials with varying concentrations (x = 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 mol %) for the first time. The formation of phase, crystal structure was analyzed by x-ray diffraction study and was affirmed to be formed pertaining to the monoclinic crystal structure (a = 11.475 Å, b = 6.345 Å, c = 9.223 Å and α = γ = 90°, β = 91.83°) with C2 space group. The absorption capability of the prepared samples was investigated by UV-DRS spectroscopy and the optical band gap was found to be 5.28 eV. FTIR study validated the presence of functional groups and their molecular vibrations. The excitation wavelength of the synthesized samples was found to be 350 nm from photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra. The PL emission spectra were recorded to authenticate the emission wavelengths and found to possess two emission peaks at 480 nm (blue) and 577 nm (yellow) contributed by the Dy3+ ions. The optimized dopant concentration of dysprosium ion was fixed at x = 0.07 to avoid the concentration quenching effect. The chromaticity co-ordinate of optimized sample was determined to be x = 0.3188, y = 0.3233 which are closer to ideal white light co-ordinate. The color temperature was determined to be 6209 K, which occurs in the cool white light region. Luminous efficacy of radiation (LER) was determined to be 269.31 l m/Wopt for the optimal phosphor. The luminous efficiency for the optimal phosphor was determined to be 40%. Color rendering index (CRI) of the optimal sample was evaluated to be 77. Internal quantum yield (IQE) of the optimal sample was determined to be 50.58 %. The phosphor materials have excellent thermal stability as validated from the temperature dependent PL measurements.