Tunable luminescence evolution and energy transfer behavior of Na3Sc2(PO4)3:Ce3+/Tb3+/Eu3+ phosphors

Abstract

A series of color-tunable emitting Na₃Sc₂(PO₄)₃:Ce³⁺/Tb³⁺/Eu³⁺ (NSPO) phosphors were prepared by a combination of hydrothermal synthesis and low temperature calcination. The phase structure, photoluminescence and energy transfer properties of the samples were studied in detail. The tunable colors were obtained by co-doping the Tb³⁺ ions into the NSPO:Ce³⁺ or NSPO:Eu³⁺ phosphors with varying concentrations. Under UV excitation, the energy transfers from Tb³⁺ to Eu³⁺ in the NSPO host occurred mainly via a dipole–dipole mechanism, and the critical distances of the ion pairs (R_c) was calculated to be 17.94 Å by the quenching concentration method. And that, the emission colors of the NSPO:Tb³⁺,Eu³⁺ phosphors could be adjusted from green through yellow to red because of the energy transfer from Tb³⁺ to Eu³⁺. Based on its good photoluminescence properties and abundant emission colors, the NSPO:Ce³⁺/Tb³⁺/Eu³⁺ phosphors might be promising as potential candidates for solid-state lighting and display fields.