Solution–combustion synthesis and photoluminescence properties of YBO3:Tb3+ phosphor powders

YBO3:Tb3+ nanocrystalline phosphors were successfully deposited by a solution–combustion method, using rare-earth nitrates, urea and boric acid as starting materials. The crystal structure, morphology, chemical composition and photoluminescence properties of the films were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results of SEM and XRD revealed that the powders were composed of spherical YBO3:Tb3+ nanocrystals with average grain size of between 50 and 100 nm. The electron diffraction spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed the presence of the Y, B, O, and C. The XRD measurements revealed YBO3:Tb3+ (JCPDS:83-1205) structure when annealed at 1000 °C for 2 h. The YBO3:Tb3+ powders exhibited emissions at 490, 545 and 585 nm, which were assigned to the 5D4–7F6, 5D4–7F5 and 5D4–7F4 transitions of Tb3+, respectively. Among them, the green emission at 545 nm (5D4–7F5) was dominant.