A single-phase white light emitting phosphor Ba3Y(PO4)3:Ce3+/Tb3+/Mn2+: luminescence, energy transfer and thermal stability

Abstract

A series of Ce³⁺/Tb³⁺, Tb³⁺/Mn²⁺ and Ce³⁺/Tb³⁺/Mn²⁺ doped Ba₃Y(PO₄)₃ were synthesized by the high temperature solid state method. Phase formation, energy transfer, luminescence properties and thermal quenching properties of phosphors were analyzed in detail. For the co-doped samples, the energy transfer from Ce³⁺ to Tb³⁺ and Tb³⁺ to Mn²⁺ was proved by analyzing the spectra and fluorescence lifetime, and the energy transfer mechanism was calculated to be dipole–dipole interaction. A series of color-tunable phosphors were obtained by the energy transfer from Ce³⁺ to Tb³⁺ and Tb³⁺ to Mn²⁺. For the tri-doped samples, it was confirmed that the energy transfers from Ce³⁺ to Tb³⁺, Tb³⁺ to Mn²⁺ and Ce³⁺ to Mn²⁺ exist at the same time by analyzing the spectra properties, and it can emit warm-white light with extensive color temperature regulability. In addition, the thermal stability was abnormal and outstanding because the defects exist in the samples. The results show that the phosphors may be novel warm white emitting phosphors for white light emitting diodes.