Tunable emitting-color and energy transfer of KCaY(PO4)2: Ce3+,Tb3+ phosphors for UV-excited white light-emitting-diodes

• The absorption of Tb3+ in UV region can be enhanced with Ce3+ co-doped.
• Emission color can be tuned from deep blue to yellowish-green.
• Energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ was carefully studied in KCaY(PO4)2.

A series of new luminescence emission-tunable phosphors KCaY(PO4)2: 0.03Ce3+, yTb3+ have been synthesized by high temperature solid-state reaction method. Under ultraviolet light excitation, KCaY(PO4)2: 0.03Ce3+, yTb3+ can achieve tunable emission from deep blue to yellowish-green by changing the concentration of Tb3+. The efficient energy transfer process from Ce3+ to Tb3+ ions was observed and confirmed in terms of corresponding excitation, emission spectra and photoluminescence decay curves, which the efficiency is above 80%. In addition, the energy transfer mechanism from Ce3+ to Tb3+ was proved to be dipole–dipole interaction in KCaY(PO4)2 host. By utilizing the principle of energy transfer and appropriate tuning of Ce3+/Tb3+ contents, KCaY(PO4)2: 0.03Ce3+, yTb3+ can realize emission color tunable and have potential application as an UV-convertible phosphor in white light-emitting diodes.

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