Luminescence properties of an orange-red phosphor GdAl_3(BO_3)4:Sm~(3+) under VUV excitation and energy transfer from Gd~(3+) to Sm~(3+)

摘要

In order to develop a new warm-color emission phosphor under vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) excitation, tri-valent samarium ion (Sm~(3+)) doped GdAl_3(BO_3)_4 was prepared by a solid state reaction technique at high temperature. The VUV excitation and emission spectra of as-synthesized sample GdAl_3(BO_3)_4:Sm~(3+) were determined in the Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facilities (BSRF). Compared with the emission of GdAl_3(BO_3)4:Eu~(3+), GdAl_3(BO_3)_4:Sm~(3+) shows an orange-red emission under Xe 172 nm VUV excitation, which indicates that Sm~(3+) ion can be a possible activator to obtain warm color emission in the field of lighting. Furthermore, for improving the emission of Sm~(3+) doped in GdAl_3(BO_3)_4, the energy transfer process from Gd~(3+) in the host to the activator Sm~(3+) was investigated through the analysis of spectroscopic characteristics and luminescence decay curves of GdAl_3(BO_3)_4:Sm~(3+). The results reveal that there exists energy transfer from Gd~(3+) to Sm~(3+), but the energy transfer from Sm~(3+) to Gd~(3+) is inefficient.