Photoluminescence of Ce3+, Tb3+, Sm3+ or Gd3+ activated Ba3BP3O12 under the VUV and UV excitation

Novel phosphors of Ce3+, Tb3+, Sm3+ or Gd3+ doped Ba3BP3O12 were synthesized by the solid-state reaction method and their VUV–UV spectroscopic properties were investigated. The bands at about 165 nm in the VUV excitation spectra are attributed to the host lattice absorptions. The bands at about 216, 238, 269, 282, and 294 nm for the sample of Ba3BP3O12: Ce3+ are connected with the f–d transitions of the Ce3+ ion, the strong band at 220 nm and weak band at 260 nm for the sample of Ba3BP3O12: Tb3+ are assumed to be the lowest spin-allowed and spin-forbidden f–d transitions of Tb3+ ion, the bands at about 187 and 166 nm for the sample of Ba3BP3O12: Sm3+ have been considered as related to the charge transfer and the f–d transition of Sm3+, and the band at 146 nm for the sample of Ba3BP3O12: Gd3+ is assumed to be connected with charge transfer of the Gd3+ ion.