A broadband yellow-green emitting mixed orthoborate-pyroborate phosphor, Ba2Sc2B4O11:Ce3+, for white light emitting diodes

The development of yellow-green phosphors for high quality white light emitting diodes (WLEDs) is critical. Herein, we successfully synthesized a mixed orthoborate-pyroborate phosphor, Ba2Sc2B4O11:Ce3+, using a high-temperature solid-state method, which exhibits bright yellow-green emission with a peak located at 540 nm and a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 130 nm under 410 nm light excitation. In addition, the crystal structure, morphology, and thermal quenching properties of Ba2Sc2B4O11:Ce3+ were investigated in detail. The quantum yield of the optimal sample was found to be 53.3%. The concentration quenching occurred through the energy transition between the nearest-neighbor Ce3+ ions. A WLED with a low correlated color temperature (CCT = 3906 K) and a high color rendering index (R-a = 89) was prepared by coating the mixture of the phosphor Ba2Sc2B4O11:Ce3+, the commercial blue phosphor BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+ and the red phosphor CaAlSiN3:Eu2+ on a 395 nm n-UV LED chip. The results show that the yellow-green phosphor Ba2Sc2B4O11:Ce3+ could be an excellent candidate for WLEDs.

Automated summary

In this study, a mixed orthoborate-pyroborate phosphor, Ba2Sc2B4O11:Ce3+, was successfully synthesized, exhibiting bright yellow-green emission with a peak located at 540 nm under 410 nm excitation. The phosphor showed a quantum yield of 53.3%, making it a promising candidate for high quality white LEDs.