Europium-activated phosphor Ba3Lu2B6O15: influence of isomorphic substitution on photoluminescence properties

ABSTRACT This work demonstrates the luminescent properties of Ba3Lu2B6O15 phosphors doped with Eu3+ ions for the first time. The Ba3(Lu1–xEux)2B6O15 (x = 0.01–0.375) phosphors have been prepared using a multi-step high-temperature solid-state synthesis. X-ray diffraction measurements verify the successful isomorphic substitution of the Lu3+ sites by the Eu3+ ions. The luminescence properties and its dependence on the crystal structure of Ba3(Lu1–xEux)2B6O15 have been reported in this work. There are two nonequivalent sites in this crystal structures occupied by lutetium, both of them can be consistently substituted by the Eu3+ ions. The highest emission intensity with quantum yield of 17% was demonstrated by Ba3(Lu0.82Eu0.18)2B6O15 powder. Increase of Eu3+ doping concentration leads to gradual change of chromaticity from violet to red. It was expected that Ba3(Lu1–xEux)2B6O15 phosphors can be used as a phosphor with predicted chromaticity under LED excitation.