Preparation and photoluminescence properties with the site‐selected excitations of Bi 3+ ‐activated Ba 3 Sc 4 O 9 phosphors

Abstract A series of novel Bi 3+ ‐doped Ba 3 Sc 4 O 9 phosphors were synthesized through the solid‐state reaction. Their photoluminescence, decay curves, and thermal quenching properties were investigated in detail. The Ba 3 Sc 4 O 9 :Bi 3+ phosphors could be efficiently excited in the ultraviolet and near‐ultraviolet region (300‐400 nm), and the photoluminescence properties possess an obvious site‐selected excitations phenomenon. When excited at the ultraviolet light (320‐360 nm), the phosphors present a green or a bluish green emission, and when excited at the near‐ultraviolet light (370‐390 nm), the phosphors always show a yellow emission. The emission spectra excited at the different wavelength can be decomposed into four components, which accord with the four cationic sites in the structure of Ba 3 Sc 4 O 9 . The influence of the Bi 3+ concentration on the photoluminescence properties is also investigated. Upon excitation at 330 and 377 nm, the Ba 3 Sc 4 O 9 :Bi 3+ both have good thermal quenching properties; their emission intensity of the peak at 150°C both exceed 60% of the initial value. The above results indicate that the Ba 3 Sc 4 O 9 :Bi 3+ phosphor is a promising candidate to provide green or yellow components for UV or near‐ UV LED s.