Photoluminescence properties of color-tunable SrMgAl10O17:Eu2+,Mn2+ phosphors for UV LEDs

► The strong absorption of phosphors matches well with the emission band of UV LED. ► The energy transfer from Eu2+ to Mn2+ in SrMgAl10O17 was investigated in detail. ► The emission color can be tuned by adjusting the content of Eu2+ and Mn2+. ► Two methods were employed to calculate the critical distance of energy transfer.