Characterization, room and low temperature photoluminescence of yttrium aluminium borate activated with Sm3+ ions

•A series of Sm3+ doped YAB phosphors were synthesized.•The phosphor YAB doped with Sm has the optimal luminescence performance.•Temperature-dependent luminescent properties of phosphor were discussed. In this study, the combustion method assisted by urea that is ideally suited to economic and time saving was used for the synthesizing of reddish orange emitting YAl3(BO3)4 phosphor samples doped with various Sm3+ ions (from 0.01 wt% to 7wt%). A detailed study of the structural and luminescence properties at room/low temperature of the synthesized samples was performed. XRD analysis revealed a rhombohedral structure with an R32 space group (155). The particle size was determined by the Scherrer's method to be 48 nm. The visible PL emission spectra upon excitation at 359 nm are recorded and four emission peaks around 564, 599, 646, and 707 nm with transitions 4G5/2 → 6H5/2, 4G5/2 → 6H7/2, 4G5/2 → 6H9/2 and 4G5/2 → 6H11/2 are observed. Concentration quenching was mainly caused by dipole-dipole interactions between neighbouring trivalent Sm3+ ions. Through the CIE chroma coordinates (0.606, 0.382), the optimized sample (x = 0.03) demonstrates admirable luminous performance. YAl3(BO3)4:Sm3+ can be a good candidate for use as a red component for lighting applications. [Display omitted]