Photoluminescence properties of Eu-activated BaCa2Al8O15 nanophosphors

A new blue-emitting nanophosphor of Eu²⁺-activated BaCa₂Al₈O₁₅ was synthesized by the Pechini method. The phosphors were investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) measurement and confirmed to be a pure crystalline phase of BaCa₂Al₈O₁₅. The photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra, the luminescence decay and the color coordinates were taken to investigate the luminescence characteristics. The dependence of luminescence intensities BaCa₂Al₈O₁₅:Eu²⁺ on the doping concentrations was investigated. This nanophosphor can be efficiently excited by UV light and presents bright blue luminescence. Under the same conditions, the light yield of BaCa₂Al₈O₁₅:Eu²⁺ is about 1.2 times higher than that of blue-emitting phosphor BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:Eu²⁺. Eu²⁺-activated BaCa₂Al₈O₁₅ nanophosphor exhibits the long-lasting phosphorescence, which was analyzed by measuring the afterglow decay curves. The co-doped Eu³⁺ ions and some defects were suggested to be the possible trap-centers.