Color tunable Ba0.79Al10.9O17.14:xEu phosphor prepared in air via valence state control

A series of luminescent Ba0.79Al10.9O17.14:xEu (x = 0.005–0.12) phosphors were prepared by high-temperature solid-state reaction in air atmosphere. The coexistence of Eu2+ and Eu3+ was observed and verified by photoluminescence (PL) and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), and diffuse reflection spectra. The band emission peaking at 430 nm was assigned to 4F65D–4F7 transition of Eu2+, and another four emissions peaking at 589, 619, 655, and 704 nm were attributed to 4F–4F transitions of 5D0–7F J (J = 1, 2, 3, 4) of Eu3+. The related mechanism of self-reduction was discussed in detail. The color of the Ba0.79Al10.9O17.14:xEu phosphors could be shifted from blue (0.23, 0.10) to red (0.42, 0.27) by doping Li+ ions, and the temperature dependence properties were investigated.