ZnB2O4:Bi3+,Eu3+:a highly efficient, red-emitting phosphor

The novel red phosphor of Eu3+-Bi3+ co-activated ZnB2O4 was prepared by a solid-state reaction. The composition-optimized (Zn0.9Eu0.1)B2O4 phosphor exhibits a dominant emission peak at 610 nm (D-5(0)-F-7(2)) with CIE coordinates of (0.63, 0.36) under the excitation at 393 nm. By co-doping Bi3+ ions in ZnB2O4:Eu3+, the emission intensity and quantum efficiency can be efficiently enhanced by an increment of 14% and 6%, respectively. The luminescence performance and thermal stability of (Zn0.8Bi0.1Eu0.1)B2O4 phosphor were found to be superior to that of the commodity phosphor, La2O2S:Eu3+. The red-emitting borate phosphor may be potentially useful in the fabrication of white light-emitting diodes (LEDs). (C) 2010 Optical Society of America