Enhanced photoluminescence properties of (Y,Bi) BO3:RE3+ (RE=Eu, Tb) phosphors synthesized at low temperature

Eu3+ or Tb3+ doped Y(1-x)BixBO3 (0.1≤x≤0.4) phosphors were synthesized using the simple solid state method at low temperature from 700 to 870 °C. The analysis of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that the system of Y(1-x)BixBO3 (0.1≤x≤0.4) had the same structure as that of YBO3. The excitation spectra, emission spectra and decay lifetimes of all samples were measured in detail. All the samples exhibited characteristic luminescence of Eu3+ or Tb3+. Y0.65Bi0.2Eu0.15BO3 and Y0.8Bi0.1Tb0.1BO3 samples had the strongest Eu3+ and Tb3+ luminescence, and showed highly enhanced luminescence compared with its corresponding sample without Bi3+. In addition, they could be efficiently excited by 254 nm light of a UV lamp, indicating a potential application for the phosphors in the fluorescent lamps.