Characterization of host-lattice emission and energy transfer in BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+

Host-lattice emission, energy transfer and degradation processes are characterized in undoped and Eu-doped BaMgAl10O17. Undoped BaMgAl10O17 exhibits a broad emission centered at 265 nm when excited at wavelengths shorter than 190 nm. This emission is assigned to exciton recombination at Ba–O groups in the cation layer of the lattice. The emission exhibits excellent overlap with the excitation band of Eu2+ in this host, providing a means of host-to-activator energy transfer in the doped phosphor. The exciton emission is relatively stable to thermal damage, but undergoes a peak shift and significant decrease in intensity after exposure to VUV radiation. Heating of VUV-damaged materials in air leads to some repair of the spectral properties.