Tunable light-emitting and enhanced thermal stability via co-doping Ce3+ and Eu2+ in Sr3Gd2(Si3O9)3

• The SGSO:Ce3+, Eu2+ phosphors have been successfully synthesized.
• The emission of SGSO:Ce3+, Eu2+ can be tuned from blue to cyan via energy transfer.
• Thermal stability of Ce3+, Eu2+ can be significantly enhanced in co-doped samples.

A novel single-composition Sr3Gd2(Si3O9)3 (SGSO):Ce3+, Eu2+ phosphor emitting blue-cyan lights was synthesized through conventional high temperature solid-state method. All samples were investigated by the X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence spectra, luminescence decay spectra and thermal photoluminescence. The Ce3+ activated SGSO sample showed strong absorption bands ranging from 270 to 380 nm and a blue broadband peaked at 405 nm. After Eu2+ were co-doped with Ce3+, the color tune of SGSO:Ce3+, Eu2+ phosphors under the irradiation of 329 nm could be adjusted from blue (0.163, 0.031) to cyan (0.212, 0.290) through the efficient energy transfer between Ce3+ and Eu2+ ions. The corresponding energy transfer mechanism between Ce3+ and Eu2+ were also discussed systematically. The thermal stability of Ce3+ and Eu2+ ions in SGSO:Ce3+, Eu2+ samples could be significant enhanced from 35.2% to 85.6% and 62.6% to 67.3% than single doped Ce3+ or Eu2+ due to the transformation of coordination environment around Ce3+ and the energy transfer through Ce3+ to Eu2+. Above properties demonstrate that the as-prepared SGSO:Ce3+, Eu2+ samples might be potential phosphors applied in phosphor-converted devices.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide