Multiple energy transfer between CaNb2O6:Tb3+, Eu3+ for single-component white light-emitting phosphors

A series of host-activated Tb3+ and Eu3+-co-doped CaNb2O6 (CNO) phosphors with tunable luminescence were synthesized via high-temperature solid-state method with the purpose of developing single-component phosphors for white light-emitting diode (LED) devices. Benefiting from blue broadband emission of CNO and multiple energy transfer of NbO43- -> Tb3+ -> Eu3+, white light-emitting CNO:Tb3+, Eu3+ phosphors were achieved by reasonably adjusting the doping content of Tb3+ and Eu3+ ions. Two typical white light-emitting phosphors, CNO:0.015Tb(3+), 0.02Eu(3+) with color coordinate (0.33, 0.33) and CNO:0.10Tb(3+), 0.05Eu(3+) with color coordinate (0.40, 0.39), could maintain 63% and 73% of the initial integral intensity at 150 degrees C and had good color stability. Subsequently, the representative CNO:0.015Tb(3+), 0.02Eu(3+) phosphors were successfully applied to a 275 nm ultraviolet chip to fabricate a white LED device with a low correlated color temperature of 3464 K and a high color rendering index of 86.0. The above results indicate that synthesized single-component white light-emitting CNO:Tb3+, Eu3+ phosphors have good application prospects in the field of white LED. Moreover, this strategy of using self-activated host and multiple energy transfer also provides guidance for the design of novel white light-emitting phosphors.

Automated summary

White light-emitting CNO:Tb3+, Eu3+ phosphors were successfully synthesized by adjusting the doping content of Tb3+ and Eu3+ ions, and showed good color stability and application prospects.