Photoluminescence properties of doped powder phosphor

Ce3+, Tb3+ and Ce3+ plus Tb3+ doped BaZn2(PO4)2 phosphors were prepared by a solid-state reaction under reductive atmosphere. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) techniques confirmed the formation of BaZn2(PO4)2 crystal phase. BaZn2(PO4)2:Ce3+ showed the parity and spin allowed 5d–4f band emission of Ce3+ ions and BaZn2(PO4)2:Tb3+ phosphors exhibited the strong typical green emission of 5D4→7F5 at 543 nm. The presence of Ce3+ ions in BaZn2(PO4)2:Tb3+ phosphor resulted the enhancement of Tb3+ emission intensity. The Ce3+ and Tb3+ codoped BaZn2(PO4)2 phosphor showed the emission of Ce3+ ions and the characteristic emissions of Tb3+ transitions, namely, 5D3,4−7FJ (J=6, 5, 4, 3) are due to the efficient energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ in the host.