Synthesis of Sr3Y2(BO3)4:Eu3+ and its photoluminescence under UV and VUV excitation

To improve the chroma of red phosphors for plasma display panels, Eu3+ activated Sr3Y2(BO3)4 (SYB) red phosphor were prepared by thermal decomposition of the corresponding nitrates method and photoluminescence (PL) spectra were investigated in detail. We found under 254 nm or 147 nm excitation, Sr3Y2(BO3)4:Eu phosphors showed a strong red emission at 612 nm corresponding to the electric dipole 5D0–7F2 transition of Eu3+. This is because Eu3+ substituted for Y3+ occupied the non-centrosymmetric position in the crystal structure of Sr3Y2(BO3)4. The concentration quenching of Sr3Y2(BO3)4:Eu is 15% under 254 nm excitation and 5% under 147 nm excitation. Compared with the (Y, Gd)BO3:Eu, Sr3Y1.95Eu0.05(BO3)4 has good color purity (x = 0.640, y = 0.359) and its photoluminescence intensity is 40% that of (Y, Gd)BO3:Eu. The photoluminescence intensity was improved 40% and 60%, respectively, after the La3+ and Al3+ were co-doped into Sr3Y2(BO3)4:Eu. It can be concluded that Sr3Y2(BO3)4:Eu3+ is a promising red vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) phosphor for plasma display panels (PDPs) applications.