Photoluminescence of BaGdB9O16:Eu3+ co-doped Al3+ or Sc3+ under UV-VUV excitation

Single phase of BaGd0.9–xMxEu0.1B9O16 (M=Al or Sc, 0≤x≤0.3) powder was prepared by the solid-state reaction and its photoluminescence (PL) properties were investigated under ultraviolet (UV) and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) excitation. Monitored with 613 nm emission, the excitation spectra of BaGd0.9–xMxEu0.1B9O16 consisted of three broad bands peaking at about 242, 208, and 142 nm, respectively. The one at about 242 nm originated from the charge transfer band (CTB) of O2– →Eu3+. The other two were assigned to the absorption of the host, which was overlapped with absorptions among borate groups, f→d transition of RE3+ (RE=Gd, Eu), and the charge transfer transition of O2– →Gd3+. The maximum emission peak was observed at about 613 nm in the emission spectra of BaGd0.9–xMxEu0.1B9O16 under both 254 and 147 nm excitation, which originated from the electric dipole 5D0→7F2 transition of Eu3+. When excited with 254 nm, the integral emission intensity of Eu3+ increased after Al3+ or Sc3+ substituting Gd3+ partly in BaGd0.9Eu0.1B9O16. Under 147 nm excitation, the integral emission intensity of Eu3+ decreased after some Gd3+ was replaced by Sc3+, but increased after adding appropriate Al3+ into BaGd0.9Eu0.1B9O16.