Photoluminescence properties of (Y 1− x− yM xEu y)BO 3 (M = Al, Zn, and La) phosphors prepared by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis under VUV excitation

Abstract

The red-emitting (Y 1− x− y M x Eu y )BO 3 (M = Al, Zn, and La, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1, 0.04 ≤ y ≤ 0.16) phosphors were synthesized by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis and their photoluminescence characteristics were studied under VUV excitation. The emission intensity was significantly improved by adding metal (M) dopants because they acted as an intermediator for the transfer of excitation energy from the host lattice to the activator Eu 3+. The emission intensity of the (Y 0.94− x M x Eu 0.06)BO 3 increased up to x = 0.025 with increasing metal concentration and then decreased with a further increase in metal concentration owing to the concentration quenching effect. The Eu 3+- and Al 3+-co-doped (Y 0.975− y Al 0.025Eu y )BO 3 showed the highest emission intensity at a lower Eu content ( y = 0.06), when compared to that ( y = 0.13) of singly Eu 3+-doped (Y 1− y Eu y )BO 3 because of the sensitization effect of Al 3+ ions.