By high temperature solid state reaction

CaAl

3

BO

7

:RE was synthesized at 1140℃. The luminescent properties of Ce

3+

Gd

3+

Tb

3+

and sensitization of Ce

3+

to Tb

3+

have been studied. The excitation band peaking at about 340nm and the broad emission band maximizing around 400 nm of the Ce

3+

are due to 4f-5f allowed transition. The emission feature of the Ce

3+

indicates that there is the stronger crystal field at the surroundings of the Ce

3+

ion

leading to the extensive crystal field splitting of 4f ground state. The absence of energy transfer of Ce

3+

-Gd

3+

-Tb

3+

is due to the fact that 5d state of Ce

3+

is lower than

6

I and

6

P states of the Gd

3+

. Energy transfer from Ce

3+

to Tb

3+

in the CaAl

3

BO

7

is efficient.