Published online by Cambridge University Press: 08 April 2011
SrAl4O7 (SA2) phosphor powders were synthesized by using a modified Pechini process. Varying amounts of boron was incorporated into the SA2 lattice to investigate the effects on crystal structure and optical properties. X-ray spectra showed that boron addition enhances phase purity of the powder at a calcination temperature of 1000 °C, whereas the formation of a new S4A7 phase was induced when a calcination temperature of 1100 °C was used. The afterglow duration was extended to longer than 5 hours when boron was present in 4-11 mol%. To elucidate the enhanced optical properties, interband trap characteristics were studied by thermoluminescence and photoluminescence.