Enhanced photoluminescence properties of red emitting Ba1−xAl2Si2O8:xEu3+ phosphors by charge compensation

Abstract

Ba_1−xAl₂Si₂O₈:xEu³⁺ (0.03 ≤ x ≤ 0.15), Ba_0.82Al₂Si₂O₈:0.12Eu³⁺, and Ba_0.76Al₂Si₂O₈:0.12Eu³⁺,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 Ba_1−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 Ba_0.76Al₂Si₂O₈:0.12Eu³⁺,0.12Na⁺ phosphor from the electric dipole transition was approximately five times higher than that of the Ba_0.88Al₂Si₂O₈:0.12Eu³⁺ phosphor.