Ce3+→Tb3+ energy transfer induced emission-tunable properties of Ba3La(PO4)3:Ce3+,Tb3+ phosphors

• The emission-tunable properties of Ba3La(PO4)3:Ce3+, Tb3+ phosphors were investigated.
• The energy transfer phenomenon of Ce3+→Tb3+ in Ba3La(PO4)3 host was authenticated.
• The luminous colors of the phosphors were tuned by changing Ce3+/Tb3+ quantity ratio.

A series of Ce3+/Tb3+ co-doped Ba3La(PO4)3 phosphors were synthesized successfully via a high-temperature solid-state reaction, and their luminescence properties were investigated. The energy transfer phenomenon of Ce3+→Tb3+ in Ba3La(PO4)3 host was authenticated by relevant excitation spectra and decay curves, which leads to the change of luminous color for Ba3La(PO4)3:Ce3+, Tb3+ phosphors by tuning the quantity ratio of Ce3+ and Tb3+. Meanwhile, the Ce3+→Tb3+ energy transfer efficiencies were also calculated in this system. These results suggest that as-developed Ba3La(PO4)3:Ce3+, Tb3+ phosphors are potential single-component color-tunable phosphors.