Tunable emission properties of Ca3B2O6:Ce3+ polycrystalline ceramics under ultraviolet light excitation

A series of Ce3+ doped Ca3B2O6 phosphors with different doping concentration were prepared by using a high-temperature solid-state reaction technique. The luminescence properties under UV excitation were studied. From the photoluminescence (PL) excitation and emission spectra we conclude that two Ce3+ sites (Ce I and Ce II) exist in host crystal. The tunable emission properties of Ce3+-doped Ca3B2O6 phosphors are analyzed by using Ce3+ ions occupancy probability between Ce I and Ce II and possible energy transfer between Ce I and Ce II center.