Effect of preparation temperature on the characteristics of Eu-doped borate phosphor particles in the spray pyrolysis

Eu-doped gadolinium borate (GdBO3:Eu) phosphor particles with fine size and uniform morphology were prepared by spray pyrolysis. The effects of the preparation temperatures on the characteristics of the GdBO3:Eu phosphor particles prepared by spray pyrolysis were analyzed. The precursor particles obtained at preparation temperatures below 1400 °C had hollow and porous inner structures. On the other hand, the precursor particles obtained at preparation temperature of 1600 °C had dense structure and uniform morphologies. The precursor particles with glass phases were formed at high-preparation temperatures above 1400 °C. The precursor particles prepared at preparation temperature of 1400 °C turned into GdBO3:Eu phosphor particles with fine size and regular morphology after post-treatment. The GdBO3:Eu phosphor particles prepared from the precursor particles obtained at a preparation temperature of 1400 °C had the maximum photoluminescence intensity, which was similar to that of the commercial (Y,Gd)BO3:Eu phosphor particles.