On the enhancement of luminescence efficiency of Y 2O 3:Eu 3+ red phosphor by incorporating (Al 3+, B 3+) in the host lattice

Abstract

Incorporation of trace (Al 3+, B 3+) in Y 2O 3 lattice, causes an enhancement of efficiency of both 5D 0 → 7F 2 luminescence of Eu 3+ and its excitation in Y 2O 3:Eu 3+ red phosphor. Enhancement of excitation remains restricted around the (Eu 3+–O 2−) C-T band. The 5D 0 → 7F 2 decay characteristics and the build-up time of the 5D 0 excited state of Eu 3+ also change due to such incorporation, although the luminescence pattern remains unchanged. The result suggests a change in polarity of the host rather than the site symmetry of Eu 3+ by the hetero-cations. Calculation of the Judd–Ofelt parameters of the 5D 0 → 7F 2 transition of Eu 3+ gives similar results.