Ultraviolet luminescence properties of Te4+-doped YCa4O(BO3)3 phosphors

Abstract Te4+-doped YCa4O(BO3)3 phosphors, potentially used for LEDs, light sources, and temperature sensors, were successfully prepared by a high temperature solid-state reaction method. XRD, SEM and XPS were used to characterize the crystal structure, particle size, morphology and element valence state of the samples, and the room temperature fluorescence properties of the phosphors were measured by a fluorescence spectrophotometer. The excitation and emission bands, peaked at 310 nm and 380 nm, corresponding to the 1S0→3P1 and 3P0,1→1S0 transitions of Te4+ ions, respectively. The 3 mol% Te4+-doped YCa4O(BO3)3 phosphor has the strongest fluorescence with a lifetime of 2.28 and 22.66 μs. The thermal quenching occurs at higher temperature, indicating a non-radiation transition that is dominated by the crossover process. The emission intensity of Te4+-doped YCa4O(BO3)3 phosphors at 380 nm changes linearly with the increase of temperature, suggesting that these fluorescent materials may be applied for temperature sensing.