An investigation on the luminescence quenching mechanism of ZnGa2O4:Tb3+ phosphor

Rod like green emitting ZnGa2O4:Tb3+ phosphor were synthesized and the effect of Tb3+ on the structural and optical properties of zinc gallate were analysed. Cubic spinel nature of ZnGa2O4:Tb3+ nano crystallite was verified from the x-ray diffraction. From the photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, chemical states of constituent elements were identified. Photoluminescence spectra reveal the green emission quenching and there are no reports about this mechanism from ZnGa2O4:Tb3+ phosphor synthesized via solid state reaction route. Quadrupole - quadrupole interaction leads to this quenching behaviour and the critical distance is 21 Å.