Single-component and white light-emitting phosphor BaAl2Si2O8: Dy3+, Eu3+ synthesis, luminescence, energy transfer, and tunable color

• The BaAl2Si2O8:Dy3+,Eu3+ phosphors are novel luminescent materials that have not been reported before.
• The energy transfer process from Dy3+ to Eu3+ ions in BASO host was investigated in detail.
• The energy transfer efficiency reached as high as 81%, and the quantum yield of BaAl2Si2O8:Dy3+,Eu3+ was about 47.43%.
• The BaAl2Si2O8:Dy3+,Eu3+ phosphors can emit a tunable yellow-to-white light under the excitation of 348 nm.

A series of Dy3+ - Eu3+ co-doped BaAl2Si2O8 phosphors were prepared via the conventional solid-state reaction method. Their crystal structure, luminescent characteristic and lifetime were investigated. The optimum doping concentrations of Dy3+and Eu3+ are both 0.05 for Dy3+ or Eu3+ singly doped BaAl2Si2O8. Furthermore, BaAl2Si2O8: 0.05Dy3+ and BaAl2Si2O8: 0.05Eu3+ emits yellow and red light. The emission color of BaAl2Si2O8: Dy3+, Eu3+ could be tuned from yellow to white due to the energy transfer. This energy transfer from Dy3+ to Eu3+ was confirmed and investigated by photoluminescence spectra and the decay time of energy donor Dy3+ ions. With constantly increasing Eu3+ concentration, the energy transfer efficiency from Dy3+ to Eu3+ in BaAl2Si2O8 host increased gradually and reached as high as 81%, the quantum yield was about 47.43%. BaAl2Si2O8: Dy3+, Eu3+ phosphors can be effectively excited by UV (about 348 nm) light and emit visible light from yellow to white by altering the concentration ratio of Dy3+ and Eu3+, indicating that the phosphors have potential applications as a white light-emitting phosphor for display and lighting.