Morphology and photoluminescence properties of YBO3:Eu3+(5%) tuned by B3+ source, stirring speed, pH value and post-annealing

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 574; pp. 142 - 148
• Main Authors: Zou, D., Ma, Y.Q., Qian, S.B., Zheng, G.H., Dai, Z.X., Li, G., Wu, M.Z.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 15-10-2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alloys; Chemical synthesis; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Distortion; Emission; Equations of state, phase equilibria, and phase transitions; Exact sciences and technology; Growth from solid phases (including multiphase diffusion and recrystallization); Luminescence; Materials science; Materials synthesis; materials processing; Methods of crystal growth; physics of crystal growth; Morphology; Nanostructures; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Phosphors; Photoluminescence; Physics; Solid-solid transitions; Specific phase transitions; Stirring; Wavelengths; Chemical synthesis; Luminescence; Nanostructures; Particle size; pH value; Spherical shape; Stirring; Crystallization; Photoluminescence; Visible spectra; Plasma display panel; Distortion; Solution heat treatment; Hydrothermal synthesis; Phosphors; Morphology; Optical properties; Displacement rates; Microstructure
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2013.04.079

With increasing sintering temperature, the emission intensities around 593, 612 and 626nm (in the visible light range) first increase from 260 to 1300°C, and then decrease due to the temperature quenching effect. However, the emission around 700nm monotonously decreases with increasing the sintering temperature, originating from the variation of the outside surroundings of Eu3+ instead of the temperature quenching effect, which is useful in PDP application. [Display omitted]
•The stirring during hydrothermal reaction significantly enhances the emission intensity.•Weak acidity in the initial solution enhances the emission in the visible light wavelength range.•Post-annealing enhances the emission in the visible light wavelength range which is useful in the PDP application.
YBO3:Eu3+ phosphors with different morphologies such as flower-like, spherical-like and cake-like have been hydrothermally synthesized without any additives by simply adjusting the B3+ sources, stirring speeds and initial solution pH values. During the hydrothermal reaction, stirring with suitable speed can reduce particle size and obtain more uniform size distribution. The emission intensity can be distinctly enhanced by stirring and post-annealing due to the micro-structural improvement and better crystallization. Interestingly, the weak acidity (pH=6) in the initial solution or post-annealing enhances the emission in the wavelength range of visible light, and weakens the emission around 700nm due to weakened distortion of the outside surroundings of Eu3+, which is useful in Plasma Display Panel (PDP) application.