The influence of Y3+, Sc3+ and Bi3+ on the photoluminescence of GdAl3(BO3)4:Eu3+ under UV and VUV excitation

Single phase of Gd0.9Eu0.1Al3(BO3)4 and Gd0.9Eu0.1Al3(BO3)4:Re3+ (Re = Y, Sc and Bi) powder samples was prepared by the solid-state reaction and their luminescence properties were investigated under ultraviolet and vacuum ultraviolet excitation. Under 254 nm excitation, the emission intensity of Eu3+ increased after Y3+, Sc3+ or Bi3+ replacing part Gd3+ of Gd0.9Eu0.1Al3(BO3)4. Under 147 nm excitation, when substituting part Gd3+ with Sc3+ or Bi3+, the emission intensity of Eu3+ decreased, but increased after doping appropriate Y3+ and the maximum emission intensity was obtained at the concentration of x = 0.6 in Gd0.9−xYxEu0.1Al3(BO3)4. Compared with the red commercial phosphor (Y,Gd)BO3:Eu3+, the optimum phosphor Gd0.3Y0.6Eu0.1Al3(BO3)4 exhibited about 92% the integrated emission intensity with chromaticity coordinates of (0.66, 0.33) under 147 nm excitation.