LAUSR

Abstract In this work, a series of novel UV-emitting chloroborate phosphors Ba2GaB4O9Cl:Ce3+, Na+ were prepared via the conventional solid-state reaction at high temperature. The structural, morphological and luminescence properties of the as-prepared phosphors were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and photoluminescence spectroscopy. These phosphors showed broad excitation bands in the wavelength range from 270 nm to 330 nm with maximum at 306 nm. Upon excitation with 306 nm, the typical dual emission bands of Ce3+ with maximum at 324 nm and 347 nm were observed, corresponding to transitions from 5d state to 4f states (2F7/2 and 2F5/2) of Ce3+. When the doping concentrations of Ce3+ exceeded a critical concentration, the emission intensity and decay lifetime decreased resulting from the concentration quenching effect. The mechanism of concentration quenching was also confirmed to be electric dipole–dipole interaction among Ce3+ ions by studying the relationship between doping concentration and emission intensity of Ce3+ based on Dexter’ equation.