Luminescence enhancement of Eu2+, Ce3+ co-doped Ba3Si5O13−δNδ phosphors

Host lattice Ba3Si5O13−δNδ oxonitridosilicates have been synthesized by the traditional solid state reaction method. The lattice structure is based on layers of vertex-linked SiO4 tetrahedrons and Ba2+ ions, where each Ba2+ ion is coordinated by eight oxygen atoms forming distorted square antiprisms. Under an excitation wavelength of 365 nm, Ba3Si5O13−δNδ:Eu2+ and Ba3Si5O13−δNδ:Eu2+,Ce3+ show broad emission bands from about 400–620 nm, with maxima at about 480 nm and half-peak width of around 130 nm. The emission intensity is strongly enhanced by co-doping Ce3+ ions into the Ba3Si5O13−δNδ:Eu2+ phosphor, which could be explained by energy transfer. The excitation band from the near UV to the blue light region confirms the possibility that Ba3Si5O13−δNδ:Eu2+, Ce3+ could be used as a phosphor for white LEDs.