A new type of blue phosphor K3Gd1-xB6O12:xCe3+: Synthesis and photoluminescence properties

A series of Ce-doped phosphors K3Gd1-xB6O12:xCe3+ (x = 0, 0.005, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04) were synthesized by high-temperature solid state reaction method. The luminescence properties were investigated under UV (333 nm) excitation. Under 333 nm light excitation, K3Gd1-xB6O12:xCe3+ exhibits intense blue emission centered at 405 nm, due to the 4f1(2F5/2)→4f°5d1 transition of Ce3+ activator. The optimum doping concentrations was found to be x = 2%. The bi-exponential behavior of the decay curves of phosphor K3Gd0.98B6O12:0.02Ce3+ reveals that the Ce3+ activators can reside in two unique crystallographic distinct sites (Gd3+ sites), which fits well with the XRD analysis. One may expect that K3Gd1-xB6O12:xCe3+ has the potential be used as a green phosphor activated by near near-UV light.