Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of Sm3+‐doped YAl3(BO3)4 phosphor

A near ultraviolet excitable phosphor based on Sm3+-doped YAl3(BO3)4 has been synthesized by modified solid-state reaction at 1000°C. The phase purity and photoluminescence (PL) behavior of the phosphor are studied in detail using the powder X-ray diffraction technique and PL measurements. X-ray diffraction reveals that the phase purity of YAl3(BO3)4 critically depends upon the boric acid concentration. The phosphor has strong excitation at 406 nm in the near ultraviolet region (350–420 nm) and its emission peaks were monitored at 564, 599 and 643 nm. Further, detailed PL analysis demonstrates that the substitution of Sm3+ ions at sites of Y3+ and Al3+ ions enhances the PL efficiency of the phosphor appreciably. First, the PL efficiency of YAl3(BO3)4:Sm3+ was compared with commercial (Y,Gd)BO3:Eu3+ red phosphor. The Fourier transform infrared study provides essential information regarding the change in metal–oxygen bond vibrations of the phosphor. The morphology of the phosphor was investigated through scanning electron microscopy, which reveals that the phosphor possessed distorted spherical and rectangular shapes with average grain sizes in the range 0.5–1 μm.