Synthesis and optical characteristics of green-emitting (Y, Gd)Al(3)(BO(3))(4): Tb(3+) phosphor for plasma display panel applications

Abstract

The objective of this work is to find a green phosphor for plasma display panels which has both high luminescence and a short decay time. A new green phosphor, (Y(1-x-y)Gd(x))Al(3)(BO(3))(4):Tb(y)(3+) (0.05 <= x <= 0.5, 0.1 <= y <= 0.5), was synthesized by a flux-assisted solid reaction and its vacuum UV excitation and emission characteristics were examined. We found that under 147 and 172 nm excitations, (Y(0.3)Gd(0.2))Al(3)(BO(3))(4):Tb(0.5)(3+) phosphors showed a strong green emission at 535-555 nm corresponding to the electric dipole (5)D(4) --> (7)F(5) transition of Tb(3+). The luminance of (Y(0.3)Gd(0.2))Al(3)(BO(3))(4):Tb(0.5)(3+) at the 147 nm excitation was higher than that of YBO(3):Tb(3+), while the spectrum and decay time of the Tb ion was about the same as that of the commercial phosphor (YBO(3):Tb(3+)). (C) 2008 The Electrochemical Society.