Enhanced photoluminescence properties of red emitting Ba1−xAl2Si2O8:xEu3+ phosphors by charge compensation
Abstract
Ba1−xAl2Si2O8:xEu3+ (0.03 ≤ x ≤ 0.15), Ba0.82Al2Si2O8:0.12Eu3+, and Ba0.76Al2Si2O8:0.12Eu3+,0.12M+ (M+ = Li+, Na+, K+) phosphors were prepared by the solution combustion method. All the prepared phosphors have a hexagonal crystal structure, belonging to the P6/mmm space group. In this study, in order to improve the photoluminescence properties of the Ba1−xAl2Si2O8:xEu3+ phosphors, two different approaches for the charge compensation were applied, i.e., self-charge compensation and the addition of charge compensators such as Li+, Na+, and K+. These two approaches significantly improved both the excitation and emission properties. In particular, among the charge compensation approaches, the Na+ ion as a charge compensator substantially enhanced the emission intensity and optical purity. The emission intensity of the Ba0.76Al2Si2O8:0.12Eu3+,0.12Na+ phosphor from the electric dipole transition was approximately five times higher than that of the Ba0.88Al2Si2O8:0.12Eu3+ phosphor.