Tunable luminescence, energy transfer and excellent thermal stability of SrMg2(PO4)2:Ce3+,Tb3+ phosphors for LEDs

A series of novel SrMg2(PO4)(2):Ce3+,Tb3+(SMP:Ce3+,Tb3+) phosphors with tunable emission spectra were produced via high temperature solid phase method. XRD, fluorescence spectrum and fluorescence lifetime for SMP:Ce3+,Tb3+ were studied in detail. Under the excitation at 308 nm, SMP:Ce3+,Tb3+ samples can emit high efficiency tunable blue-green light by controlling the proportion of dopant concentration. Through the spectral overlap and the regular change of fluorescence lifetime, it is proved that there is a significant energy transfer between Ce3+ and Tb3+ in SMP matrix and the energy transfer mechanism is determined to be an electric dipole-dipole interaction with energy transmission efficiency of 55%. In additional, Commission International de L'Eclairage (CIE) color coordinates and thermal stability were studied. All above findings suggest that SMP:Ce3+,Tb3+ can be regarded as the potential bluish green phosphor for LED applications. (c) 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Society of Rare Earths.

Automated summary

Novel SrMg2(PO4)(2):Ce3+,Tb3+ phosphors with tunable emission spectra have been successfully synthesized via high temperature solid phase method. These phosphors show efficient tunable blue-green light emission and exhibit a significant energy transfer mechanism between Ce3+ and Tb3+ ions with an energy transmission efficiency of 55%, making them potential candidates for LED applications.