Towards the development of new phosphors with reduced content of rare earth elements: Structural and optical characterization of Ce:Tb: Al2SiO5

• A new promising inert matrix as host of luminescent ions is proposed.
• Al2SiO5 matrix is free from Rare earths (critical raw materials).
• Doping the matrix with Ce and Tb we obtain an efficient green emitter.
• Cerium acts as sensitizer for Terbium emission.

A new promising inert matrix as host of luminescent ions is proposed. Al2SiO5 samples, doped with rare earths (Ce, Tb single doped and co-doped) are proposed as good prospect for the development of new UV–vis converter with reduced content of rare earths elements. Structural characterization by Raman, XRD spectroscopy and TEM imaging reveals the sillimanite phase and nano sized dimension of the investigated powders. Optical characterization by steady time and time resolved emission spectroscopy for the single doped and co-doped samples allows to identify an efficient energy transfer from Ce to Tb ions under near UV excitation wavelength. The intense green emission observed in the Ce:Tb co-doped Al2SiO5 system suggests its potential application as efficient blue pumped green emitter phosphor to be exploited for white LED: to this purpose we tested the compound in combination with a red emitting doping ion recording for Ce:Tb:Cr:ASO system a correlated color temperature of 6720 K.

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