Color tuning of Ba2ZnSi2O7:Ce3+, Tb3+ phosphor via energy transfer

A series of Ce3+ or Tb3+ doped and Ce3+/Tb3+ co-doped Ba2ZnSi2O7 phosphors were prepared via the conventional high temperature solid state reaction method. The photoluminescence and energy transfer properties of samples were studied in detail. The optimal proportion of Ce3+ single doping is 2 mol% with maximal fluorescence intensity. Ba1.98−xZnSi2O7:0.02Ce3+, xTb3+ shows both a blue emission (428 nm) from Ce3+ and a yellowish-green emission (542 nm) from Tb3+ with considerable intensity under ultraviolet (UV) excitation (352 nm). The emission chromaticity coordinates can be adjusted from blue to green region by tuning the concentration of Tb3+ ions from 0.00 to 0.06 through an energy transfer process. The energy transfer mechanism from Ce3+ to Tb3+ ions was proved to be dipole-dipole interaction. The Ce3+ and Tb3+ co-doped Ba2ZnSi2O7 phosphors are potential UV-convertible candidates with green light emitting in UV-LEDs for the high efficient energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ ions.