Energy transfer between Pr3+ and Mn2+ in SrB4O7:Pr,Mn

The luminescence of Pr3+ or Mn2+ singly doped, as well as Pr3+ and Mn2+ codoped, SrB4O7 powder microcrystalline samples were investigated using synchrotron radiation. The photon cascade emission originating from the S-1(0) level was observed in the SrB4O7:Pr3+ (0.1 mol %) sample upon 206 nm excitation. There are desirable spectral overlaps in the region of 330-430 nm between the emission spectra of the SrB4O7:Pr3+ sample and the excitation spectra of the SrB4O7:Mn2+ sample monitoring the Mn2+ luminescence at 640 nm. These spectral overlaps are in favor of the energy transfer from Pr3+ to Mn2+, converting the first step photon from Pr3+:S-1(0) in the unpractical ultraviolet or near-ultraviolet regions into the red Mn2+ emission. A comparison of the emission spectra of the SrB4O7:Pr3+, Mn2+ sample with that of the SrB4O7:Pr3+ sample revealed the existence and the efficiency of the proposed energy transfer between Pr3+ and Mn2+, suggesting an promising vacuum ultraviolet phosphor based on Pr3+ and Mn2+ combination with visible quantum efficiency greater than unit. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.