Luminescence properties of BCNO phosphor prepared by a green and simple method

BCNO phosphors with tuneable emission spectra were prepared at 625 °C under atmosphere using boric acid, melamine and glucose as raw materials. The XRD, SEM and FTIR results show that the prepared compound is composed of cubic B2O3 and partially crystalline BCNO. The emission peak position can be tuned from 510 nm to 560 nm by changing the glucose contents and the mol ratios of boric acid and melamine. The decay process of BCNO phosphors can be fitted well by double exponential function, and the lifetimes τ1 and τ2 were correlated with carbon impurity concentration and other defects in BCNO phosphor, respectively.

► We report a novel, simple and green method to prepare BCNO phosphors.
► The emission spectra can be tuned easily by changing the raw materials.
► The excitation, emission, decay process and emission mechanism of BCNO phosphors were investigated.