Characterization of host-lattice emission and energy transfer in BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+

Host-lattice emission, energy transfer and degradation processes are characterized in undoped and Eu-doped BaMgAl10O17. Undoped BaMgAl10O17 exhibits a broad emission centered at 265 nm when excited at wavelengths shorter than 190 nm. This emission is assigned to exciton recombination at Ba-O groups in the cation layer of the lattice. The emission exhibits excellent overlap with the excitation band of Eu2+ in this host, providing a means of host-to-activator energy transfer in the doped phosphor. The exciton emission is relatively stable to thermal damage, but undergoes a peak shift and significant decrease in intensity after exposure to VUV radiation. Heating of VUV-damaged materials in air leads to some repair of the spectral properties. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.