Synthesis and luminescence properties of novel [beta]-Zn^sub 3^BPO^sub 7^:Ln (Ln = Ce^sup 3+^, Eu^sup 2+^, Eu^sup 3+^) phosphors

This work first reports the synthesis and luminescence properties of rare earth Ce^sup 3+^, Eu^sup 2+^, Eu^sup 3+^ ions doped [beta]-Zn^sub 3^BPO^sub 7^ phosphors [[beta]-Zn^sub 3^BPO^sub 7^:Ln (Ln = Ce^sup 3+^, Eu^sup 2+^, Eu^sup 3+^)]. The phosphors were synthesized by a solid-state reaction at high temperature, and their luminescence properties were investigated by measuring the photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra. The f-d transitions of Ce^sup 3+^ and Eu^sup 2+^ ions in the host lattice are assigned and corroborated, which lead to the broad emission band in ultraviolet (UV) and visible region for Ce^sup 3+^ and Eu^sup 2+^ ions under UV excitation, respectively. Typical reddish orange emission from Eu^sup 3+^ in the host lattice was also observed. The spectroscopic characteristics including Stokes shift, crystal field depression, electron-vibrational interaction, and charge transfer band were investigated and compared with that in other borophosphate phosphors. [beta]-Zn^sub 3^BPO^sub 7^:Eu^sup 2+^ and [beta]-Zn^sub 3^BPO^sub 7^:Eu^sup 3+^ phosphors show potential application in solid state lighting region. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]