The structure and photoluminescence properties of a novel yellow-green emission phosphor Ba3Sc2B4O12: Ce3+ excited by NUV light

Highlights: • A kind of borate mineral (Ba₃Sc₂B₄O₁₂) based Ce³⁺ doped phosphor was synthesized successfully. • Its band structure, electron density and relationship with its luminescence properties are studied detailedly. • Its luminescence properties are studied detailedly as a potential LEDs used phosphor. A kind of borate mineral (Ba₃Sc₂B₄O₁₂) based Ce³⁺ doped phosphor is prepared by high thermal solid state reaction successfully. Its crystal and energy band is studied in detail by TEM, XRD and First Principle calculation. Ba₃Sc₂B₄O₁₂ crystallizes by trigonal system and P-3m1(164) space group. Series of Ce³⁺ doped Ba₃Sc₂B₄O₁₂ phosphors are researched. The energy band, electron cloud density and luminescent properties of Ba₃Sc₂B₄O₁₂: Ce³⁺ are investigated in great detail by density functional theory calculations, emission-excitation spectra, decay times and thermal dependent spectra. Ba₃Sc₂B₄O₁₂: Ce³⁺ can yield blue-green-yellow broad light at ~539 nm with FWHM 190 nm upon 370 nm light stimulation and the quantum efficiency is 22.7%. According to electron cloud density and photoluminescence (PL) property analysis, Ce³⁺ can occupy two kinds luminescent centers. White-LED is also fabricated combining with NUV chip covered by this phosphor and (Ca, Sr)AlSiN₃: Eu²⁺ mixture driven by 3 V and 25 mA. It can generate warm-white light with 4180 K correlated color temperature. It demonstrates that Ba₃Sc₂B₄O₁₂: Ce³⁺ is a kind of RGB phosphor to get warm white light combining with NUV LED chip.