Preparation of LaB3O6:Eu3+ phosphors by a facile precursor method and their luminescent properties

•A calcining precursor method was used for preparation of LaB3O6:Eu3+ phosphor.•Precursor was prepared by boric acid melting method.•The luminescence intensity of LaB3O6:Eu3+ was enhanced by the present method.

The LaB3O6:Eu3+ phosphors were prepared by calcining the precursors which were synthesized by boric acid melting method using rare earth oxide and boric acid as raw materials, and they were characterized by EDS, XRD, IR, SEM and PL. The influences of reaction temperature for the preparation of precursor and subsequent calcination temperature and time of precursor on the luminescence properties of LaB3O6:Eu3+ phosphor were investigated. The results showed that the LaB3O6:Eu3+ phosphors with maximum luminescent intensity were obtained by calcining precursor at 1000 °C for 6 h, in which the precursor was prepared at 200 °C for 72 h. Compared with the conventional high temperature solid-state reaction method, the pure LaB3O6:Eu3+ phosphor can be obtained at relatively lower calcination temperature by the precursor method and exhibits much stronger emission intensity.

Graphical abstractLaB3O6:Eu3+ phosphor was obtained by calcining the precursor which was synthesized by boric acid melting method. It (a) exhibits much stronger PL intensity than that (b) prepared by conventional solid state reaction method.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide