To achieve tunable-color emission in a novel tri-doped phosphate sulfate phosphor: Tb3+ as the energy transfer bridge

Abstract

Ce³⁺–Tb³⁺–Eu³⁺ triply doped Ba₃KPO₄(SO₄)₂ phosphors were synthesized and extensively studied. The luminescence properties, concentration effect and energy transfer (ET) mechanism of phosphors were studied in detail using the photoluminescence spectra and decay curves. The luminescent color of Ce³⁺–Tb³⁺–Eu³⁺ triply doped Ba₃KPO₄(SO₄)₂ phosphors can be tuned by adjusting the ET between different dopants. Spectroscopy studies demonstrate that Tb³⁺ acts as a bridge via Ce³⁺–Tb³⁺–Eu³⁺ ET in Ba₃KPO₄(SO₄)₂. The combined effects of energy-transfer on the emission color of Ce³⁺–Tb³⁺–Eu³⁺ show that the newly synthesized Ba₃KPO₄(SO₄)₂:Ce³⁺/Tb³⁺/Eu³⁺ phosphors can be used as a potential color converter with a large color gamut.