ZnB₂O₄:Bi³⁺,Eu³⁺:a highly efficient, red-emitting phosphor

The novel red phosphor of Eu³⁺-Bi³⁺ co-activated ZnB₂O₄ was prepared by a solid-state reaction, The composition-optimized (Zn_0.9Eu_0.1)B₂O ₄ phosphor exhibits a dominant emission peak at 610 nm ( ⁵D_o-⁷F₂) with CIE coordinates of (0.63, 0.36) under the excitation at 393 nm. By co-doping Bi³⁺ ions in ZnB₂O₄:Eu³⁺, the emission intensity and quantum efficiency can be efficiently enhanced by an increment of 14% and 6%, respectively. The luminescence performance and thermal stability of (Zn _0.8Bi_0.1Eu_0.1)B₂O₄ phosphor were found to be superior to that of the commodity phosphor, La ₂O₂S:Eu³⁺. The red-emitting borate phosphor may be potentially useful in the fabrication of white light-emitting diodes (LEDs).