Optimization of Pr3+, Tb3+, and Sm3+ Co-Doped (Y0.65Gd0.35)BO3:Eu0.053+ VUV Phosphors through Combinatorial Approach

A combinatorial approach was used to systematically investigate the effect of trace Pr3+, Tb3+, or Sm3+ on the VUV photoluminescence of Eu3+ in the Pr3+, Tb3+, or Sm3+ co-doped (Y0.65Gd0.35)BO3:Eu3+0.05. We found that Pr3+ and Tb3+increases the VUV photoluminescent efficiency, while Sm3+ decreases the efficiency. The optimized composition was identified to be between 7 × 10−6 and 3 × 10−4, and the corresponding efficiency improvement is about 15%. Scale-up experiments confirmed the results in the combinatorial materials libraries.