A series of Eu3+ doped Zn[B3O3(OH)5]∙H2O/ZnB4O7/ZnB2O4 phosphors: Facile preparation and photoluminescence properties

•Zn[B3O3(OH)5]∙H2O:Eu3+ precursor was prepared by a homogeneous precipitation route.•ZnB4O7/ ZnB2O4:Eu3+ phosphors were prepared by calcining the precursor.•The PL properties of Zn[B3O3(OH)5]∙H2O/ZnB4O7/ ZnB2O4:Eu3+ were investigated.•ZnB2O4:Eu3+ phosphor prepared by the present method exhibits strong emission intensity.

A series of Eu3+ doped Zn[B3O3(OH)5]∙H2O/ZnB4O7/ZnB2O4 phosphors have been prepared by a facile method. Namely, Zn[B3O3(OH)5]∙H2O:Eu3+ precursors with four kinds of morphologies were firstly prepared by a homogeneous precipitation method, then ZnB4O7:Eu3+ and ZnB2O4:Eu3+ phosphors were obtained by annealing of the as-prepared Zn[B3O3(OH)5]·H2O:Eu3+ precursors at (600–700) °C and (800–900) °C, respectively. The samples were characterized by EDS, XRD, TG–DTA, FT-IR and SEM. A systematic studies on the photoluminescence (PL) properties of Zn[B3O3(OH)5]∙H2O/ZnB4O7/ZnB2O4:Eu3+ phosphors have been performed. It was found that the emission intensity of ZnB2O4:Eu3+ phosphor prepared by present method was much stronger than that prepared by conventional high temperature solid-state method.

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