Investigation on luminescence properties of emission-tunable Ba9Y2Si6O24:Tb3+, Mn2+ phosphors

A series of emission-tunable Ba9Y2Si6O24:Tb3+, Mn2+ (BYS:Tb3+, Mn2+) phosphors were prepared by a solid-state reaction method, and their luminescence properties upon ultraviolet light excitation were studied. The characteristic 5D4–7FJ emissions of Tb3+ are observed in BYS:0.6Tb3+ upon 300 nm excitation. By codoping Tb3+–Mn2+ into the BYS host, tunable emission is realized in BYS:0.6Tb3+, yMn2+ (0≤y≤0.5), ranging from yellowish green to orange. The energy transfer (ET) from Tb3+ to Mn2+ is verified by the decay curves and the ET efficiencies are valuated from the changing decay lifetimes. By further adjusting the relative concentrations of Tb3+ and Mn2+, nearly white light is obtained finally in the BYS:0.05Tb3+, 0.1Mn2+ sample. The above investigations indicate the as-prepared BYS:Tb3+, Mn2+ phosphors could have potential applications in UV-LEDs.