β-Zn3BPO7:Mn2+: A novel rare-earth-free possible deep-red emitting phosphor

Abstract Novel rare-earth-free deep-red emitting phosphors, β- Zn 3(1− x ) Mn 3 x BPO 7 , were prepared successfully by high temperature solid-state reaction and their photoluminescence properties were investigated. The excitation spectrum consists of a broad excitation band peaking at 255 nm and a group of line-shaped excitation peaks around 350 nm and 500 nm, which can be attributed to the charge transfer transition in Mn 2+ –O 2− bonds and the inner d–d electron transitions of Mn 2+ ion, respectively. The emission bands are due to 4 T 1 ( 4 G) → 6 A 1 ( 6 S) transition of the Mn 2+ ion and there exists efficient energy transfer from charge transfer state of Mn 2+ –O 2− bonds to Mn 2+ ions. The dependence of emission wavelength on Mn 2+ concentration is studied. The decay curve of Mn 2+ ions luminescence in β- Zn 3 BPO 7 :Mn 2+ is also measured.