Luminescence properties of an orange-red phosphor GdAl3(BO3)4:Sm3+ under VUV excitation and energy transfer from Gd3+ to Sm3+

Abstract

In order to develop a new warm-color emission phosphor under vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) excitation, trivalent samarium ion (Sm3+) doped GdAl3(BO3)4 was prepared by a solid state reaction technique at high temperature. The VUV excitation and emission spectra of as-synthesized sample GdAl3(BO3)4:Sm3+ were determined in the Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facilities (BSRF). Compared with the emission of GdAl3(BO3)4:Eu3+, GdAl3(BO3)4:Sm3+ shows an orange-red emission under Xe 172 nm VUV excitation, which indicates that Sm3+ ion can be a possible activator to obtain warm color emission in the field of lighting. Furthermore, for improving the emission of Sm3+ doped in GdAl3(BO3)4, the energy transfer process from Gd3+ in the host to the activator Sm3+ was investigated through the analysis of spectroscopic characteristics and luminescence decay curves of GdAl3(BO3)4:Sm3+. The results reveal that there exists energy transfer from Gd3+ to Sm3+, but the energy transfer from Sm3+ to Gd3+ is inefficient.