Optimum europium doped aluminoborates phosphors and their photoluminescence properties under VUV and UV excitation

A series of red-emitting Y1−x−yGdyEuxAl3(BO3)4 (x=0-0.15, y=0-0.25) phosphors were prepared by precipitation method. Their structure and morphology were characterized by XRD and SEM, and their photoluminescent properties under VUV and UV excitation were investigated. The results indicate that the phosphors are suitable to the excitation at VUV light of 147 nm and UV light of 254 nm. A set of the optimized process parameters (the calcination temperature at 1000 °C, 10 mol% Eu3+ and 20 mol% Gd3+ doping concentrations) can help the phosphors to improve their luminescent properties. Therefore, the optimized process parameters enable Y1−x−yGdyEuxAl3(BO3)4 (x=0-0.15, y=0-0.25) phosphors to have great potential to be used in PDP and mercury-free fluorescent lamp in the future.