Photonic band gap and photoluminescence properties of LaPO4:Tb inverse opal

The effect of the photonic stop-band on the spontaneous emission of the 5D4→7Fn transitions of Tb3+ has been observed in the inverse opals of Tb3+ doped LaPO4. Significant suppression of the emission was detected if the photonic band gap overlaps with the Tb3+ ions emission band, while enhancement of the emission occurs if the emission band appears at the edge of the photonic band gap.