Energy transfer and luminescence dynamics in Ca3Gd2(BO3)4:Eu3+

Eu3+-doped and -undoped Ca3Gd2(BO3)4 phosphors were synthesized by the high temperature solid-state reaction. The excitation and emission spectra and the decays of the Gd3+ and Eu3+ luminescence in Ca3Gd2(BO3)4:Eu3+ under excitation into the self-trapped excitation (STE) state are investigated in the wavelength region from vacuum ultraviolet to visible. The efficient energy transfer occurs from the host STE state to the emitting state of Eu3+ 5D0 via two intermediate states: the Gd3+ 6P7/2 state or the O–Eu charge transfer state. The analyses of decay curves of the Eu3+ 5D0 emission at 615 nm and the Gd3+ 6P7/2 emission at 314 nm show much faster energy transfer from Gd3+ to Eu3+ than the energy diffusion among the Gd3+ ions.