Luminescent properties of the BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:Eu²⁺,M³⁺ (M = Nd, Er) phosphor in the VUV region

BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:EU²⁺ phosphor powder was synthesized using a sol-gel process. Doping Er³⁺ and Nd³⁺ in the phosphor can increase the luminescent intensity of the phosphor in the VUV region. The BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:EU²⁺ phosphor crystallizes completely when the dried gel is calcined at 1300 °C. The BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:EU²⁺ can absorb the VUV efficiently, and Er³⁺ and Nd³⁺ ions have great effects on the luminescent properties of BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:Eu²⁺ phosphor by forming positive charged defects. When a suitable amount of Er³⁺ or Nd³⁺ ion is doped in the phosphor, the excitation intensity in the VUV region especially at about 172 nm increases and the luminescent intensity excited by VUV also increases.