Color-tunable LaCaAl3O7:Ce3+,Tb3+ phosphors for UV light-emitting diodes

Color tunable LaCaAl3O7:0.05Ce3+,yTb3+ (LCA:0.05Ce3+,yTb3+) phosphors were synthesized by solid state reaction. The luminescence spectra and the lifetime were investigated in detail. Results confirm that Tb3+ can substitute all La3+ sites without impure phase, and cause luminescence spectra shifting to longer wavelength. Besides, an efficient energy transfer with efficiency over 80% from Ce3+ to Tb3+ was found in the LCA host. Through this efficient energy transfer process, the hues of obtained phosphors changed from blue-white to green light. The results demonstrate its potential of applying in white light-emitting diodes.

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► Structure of LCA:Ce is investigated by XRD refinement.
► Efficient energy transfer with efficiency >80% was found in the LCA host.
► The dynamic process of energy transfer is studied using decay curves.
► The hues of LCA:Ce,Tb phosphors changed from blue-white to green light.