Temperature-dependent luminescence of red-emitting Ba2Y5B5O17: Eu3+ phosphors with efficiencies close to unity for near-UV LEDs

Solid state white light sources based on a near-UV LED chip are gaining more and more attention. This is due to the increasing efficiency of near-UV-emitting LED chips and wider phosphors selection if compared to devices based on blue LED chips. Here, a brief overview is given of the concepts of generating white light employing near-UV LED and some optical properties of the available phosphors are discussed. Finally, the synthesis and optical properties of very efficient red-emitting Ba2Y5B5O17:Eu3+ phosphor powder and ceramics is reported and discussed in terms of possible application as a red component in near-UV LED-based white light sources