Two- step synthesis and luminescent properties of BaB 2 O 4 :Eu 3+ nano/microphosphors prepared from Ba-B-O:Eu 3+ precursor.

The BaB2 O4 :Eu3+ nano/microphosphors with sphere-, rod-, and granular-like morphologies were successfully obtained by a two-step method using Ba-B-O:Eu3+ as the precursor. The structure, morphology and photoluminescent properties of the products were characterized by Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photoluminescence (PL). The formation mechanisms of Ba-B-O:Eu3+ and BaB2 O4 :Eu3+ were proposed. The results show that the BaB2 O4 :Eu3+ could retain the original morphologies of their respective precursors largely. The BaB2 O4 :Eu3+ prepared by this two-step method exhibited better morphology, smaller particle size and better crystallinity than when prepared by a solid-state method. The granular-like BaB2 O4 :Eu3+ red phosphor prepared by this two-step method exhibited stronger PL intensity and better red color purity than when prepared by a solid-state method.