Synthesis and luminescent properties of novel Ba 2−xEu xZr 2−yHf ySi 3O 12 phosphor

Abstract

A series of Eu 2+ activated luminescent materials according to the composition of Ba 2− x Eu x Zr 2− y Hf y Si 3O 12 were synthesized using a high temperature solid-state reaction method starting from metal oxides and carbonates. Single phase powders were obtained using two annealing steps and boric acid as a flux. Firstly, starting materials were sintered at 1450 °C for 5 h under CO atmosphere and subsequently annealed at 1200 °C for 5 h under N 2/H 2 (95%/5%) gas flow. All samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, thermal quenching (TQ), fluorescence lifetime measurements and photoluminescence (PL) techniques. Moreover, emission colour points, luminous efficacies and quantum efficiencies (QE) were calculated and discussed as a function of Eu 2+ concentration and Zr/Hf ratio of the host lattice.