Photoluminescence properties and energy transfer of a novel bluish-green tunable KSrY(PO4)2:Ce3+, Tb3+ phosphor

A series of single-phased emission Ce3+/Tb3+-coactivated KSrY(PO4)2 (KSYP) phosphors were synthesized by solid-state reaction. The crystal structures, photoluminescence properties, fluorescence lifetimes and energy transfer of KSYP:Ce3+, Tb3+ were systematically investigated in detail. Wavelength-tunable bluish-green light could be realized by coupling the emission bands centered at 401 and 543 nm ascribed to the contribution from Ce3+ and Tb3+, respectively. Intense green emission was realized in the KSrY0.59(PO4)2:0.01 mol Ce3+, 0.40 mol Tb3+ phosphors on the basis of the high efficiency energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ with an efficiency of over 68%. The energy transfer mechanism from Ce3+ to Tb3+ in the KSYP host was ascribed to the exchange interaction. These results indicated that the KSYP:Ce3+, Tb3+ phosphors have potential applications in the field of lighting and display due to their effective excitation in the ultraviolet range.