Enhanced PL and VUV absorption of BaZr(BO3)2:Eu3+ by Al3+ incorporation

Abstract— The photoluminescence (PL) and vacuum‐ultraviolet excitation (VUV) properties of BaZr(BO₃)₂ doped with the Eu³⁺ activator ion were studied as a new red phosphor for PDP applications. The excitation spectrum shows strong absorption in the VUV region with an absorption band edge at 200 nm. The charge‐transfer excitation band of Eu³⁺ was enhanced by co‐doping with an Al³⁺ ion into the BaZr(BO₃)₂ lattices. The PL spectrum shows the strongest emission at 615 nm, corresponding to the electric dipole ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ transition of Eu³⁺ in BaZr(BO₃)₂, which results in good red‐color purity.