Fluorescence and energy transfer in CaMgP2O7:Ce3+, Tb3+ phosphor

• The phosphors show emitting from Ce3+ and Tb3+ with excitation wavelength of Ce3+.
• There is high transfer efficiency with the maximal value 48.2% from Ce3+ to Tb3+.
• The energy transfer mechanism from Ce3+ to Tb3+ is dipole–dipole interaction.

A series of Ce3+ or Tb3+ doped and Ce3+/Tb3+ co-doped CaMgP2O7 phosphors were prepared by the solid state reaction method. The fluorescence and energy transfer property of samples were studied in details. CaMgP2O7:Ce3+, Tb3+ shows both an ultraviolet (UV) emitting (300–450 nm) from Ce3+ and a yellowish-green emitting (543 nm) from Tb3+ with considerable intensity under UV excitation (278 nm). The energy transfer mechanism from Ce3+ to Tb3+ ions was proved to be dipole–dipole interaction. The Ce3+ and Tb3+ co-doped CaMgP2O7 phosphors are potential UV-convertible candidates with green light emitting in UV-LEDs for the high efficient energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ ions.