Luminescent properties of (Ba,Sr)MgAl₁₀O₁₇:Mn,Eu green phosphor prepared by spray pyrolysis under VUV excitation

BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:Mn phosphor particles with a spherical shape and fine size of less than 1 μm were prepared by spray pyrolysis, and their luminescence properties under vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) excitation were investigated by changing the concentration of activators and the composition of host matrix. It was found that by substituting Sr for Ba sites in the conduction layers the excitation efficiency at wavelengths shorter than 160 nm is enhanced. As a result, the photoluminescence intensity of BaMgAl ₁₀O₁₇:Mn phosphor increases under VUV excitation (147 nm) without any shift in the peak position of the emission spectrum. The photoluminescence intensity of (Ba,Sr)MgAl₁₀O₁₇:Mn phosphor was also additionally improved by codoping Eu²⁺ ions as a consequence of the energy transfer from Eu²⁺ in the conduction layer to Mn²⁺ in the spinel block. Finally, the highest photoluminescence intensity achieved when 40 at. % of Ba was replaced with Sr and 0.1 at. % Eu was codoped was about 20% higher than that of commercial BaMgAl₁₀O ₁₇:Mn phosphor prepared by a conventional solid-state route.