Luminescent properties of Gd3PO7 : Eu in UV/VUV region

The luminescent properties of Gd3PO7:Eu were investigated in W and VUV regions. This phosphor has such strong emissions around 618.5 nn under UV excitation, especially around 209nn, that it has a better colour saturation than that of Y2O3:Eu. It could be a new potential red phosphor for lamp and other applications with W-excitation source or even for displaying devices. In the VUV excitation spectrum of Eu3+ emissions, energy absorptions by Gd3+, Gd-O and PO43- have been observed, on which it can be inferred that there are three kinds of energy transferring processes to Eu-3(+) ions. The energy absorptions of Gd3+, Gd-O and PO43- are induced by 4f --> 4f transitions, a bandgap transition of Gd3PO7 and intramolecular (2t(2) --> 2a, 3t(2)) transition, respectively. The energy transfer efficiency of the PO43- intramolecular transition is lower compared with that of the bandgap transition (Gd-O).