Luminescence Properties of a Novel Blue-Emitting Phosphor NaBaBO3:Tm3+,K+

Abstract

A novel blue-emitting phosphor NaBaBO3doped with Tm3+was prepared using a conventional high temperature solid-state reaction method. Its crystal structure and luminescence properties were studied. Photoluminescence measurements indicate that the phosphor features a satisfactory blue performance due to the1D2→3F4transition of Tm3+with the highest photoluminescence intensity located at 460 nm excited by 359 nm near-ultraviolet (NUV) light. In addition, the concentration of Tm3+was adjusted in order to obtain the optimum emission intensity. When the Tm3+concentration in NaBaBO3is 6.0 mol% the maximum intensity can be obtained. The concentration quenching occurs when Tm3+concentration is beyond 6.0 mol% and the concentration quenching mechanism can be explained by the dipole–dipole interaction. The measured chromaticity coordinate for the NaBaBO3:Tm3+phosphor under 359 nm excitation is determined to be (0.1470, 0.1090). The present work suggests that the NaBaBO3:Tm3+,K+phosphor is a promising blue-emitting material for NUV white light-emitting diodes.