Study of luminescence from terbium doped strontium borate nanophosphors in PMMA

Sr3B2O6:Tb3+/PMMA luminescent polymer nanocomposite (LPNC) films have been obtained by combustion synthesis of Sr3B2O6:Tb3+ nanophosphors (NPs) and their subsequent dispersion in a polymer (PMMA) matrix by the solution casting method. The work presented here reports the experimental investigations of such LPNC films in order to assess their viability for solid state lighting applications. X-ray diffraction data of the LPNC films confirmed the rhombohedral structure with a R-3c space group for the dispersed NPs. The average crystallite size of the NPs in the LPNC films was found to be in the range of (39 +/- 2) nm. At an excitation wavelength of 247 nm, the photoluminescence emission spectrum consisted of several lines at 489 nm, 545 nm, 584 nm and 621 nm, respectively, corresponding to D-5(4)-> F-7(6), D-5(4)-> F-7(5), D-5(4)-> F-7(4) and D-5(4)-> F-7(3) transitions of Tb3+. The Commission International del'Eclairage coordinates of (0.25, 0.68) in the color gamut bears the signature of green emission of the LPNC films. The band gap estimated from the UV-Vis measurements lies in the range of (4.88 +/- 0.07) eV for the films. Thermal scans suggested a slight increase in the glass transition temperature (T-g) of the LPNC films as compared to the pure polymer.

Automated summary

In this study, Sr3B2O6:Tb3+/PMMA luminescent polymer nanocomposite films were synthesized by combustion synthesis of Sr3B2O6:Tb3+ nanophosphors and dispersion in a PMMA matrix. Experimental investigations confirmed the viability of these LPNC films for solid state lighting applications, showing unique photoluminescence properties and thermal performance.