Polyspectral white light emission from Eu3+, Tb3+, Dy3+, Tm3+ co-doped GdAl3(BO3)4 phosphors obtained by combustion synthesis

Polycrystalline sub-micron-sized GdAl3(BO3)(4) phosphors co-doped with Eu3+, Tb3+, Dy3+ and Tm3+ have been prepared by combustion synthesis with urea. The phosphors have been characterised by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, excitation and emission spectroscopy. The chromaticity coordinates and the colour temperatures of the fluorescence of the materials presented have been Calculated and analysed with Commission Internationale l'Eclairage (CIE) programs and diagrams. Depending on the excitation wavelength, different colour temperatures of the light emitted can be achieved. Due to its polyspectral nature, the emitted light reveals a high colour rendering index. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.