Hydrothermal synthesis and photoluminescence of novel green-emitting phosphor Y1−xBO3:xTb3+

Y1−xBO3:xTb3+ phosphors were first synthesized by hydrothermal reaction, and the samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffractometry, infrared absorption, nuclear magnetic resonance, scanning electron microscopy and photoluminescence. The results show that single phase is obtained with Tb concentration up to 0.28 and all the samples exhibit flake-like morphology. The sample was determined to be vaterite-type orthoborate and the boron is both four-coordinated (chief) and three-coordinated (few). The Y1−xBO3:xTb3+ phosphors showed intense green emission at 550 nm and the intensity of the emission increases with Tb3+ substitution up to 0.22 and then decreases for higher Tb3+ content. In the phosphors prepared by the hydrothermal method the concentration quenching is higher than in the phosphors prepared by solid-state reaction; the intensity of emission is stronger in the former than that of the latter. Y1−xBO3:xTb3+ is a promising phosphor for plasma display panels and hydrargyrum-free lamps.