Photoluminescence properties and energy transfer in color tunable BaY2Si3O10:Ce,Tb phosphors

• A single-phased BaY2Si3O10: Ce3+,Tb3+ phosphor was obtained.
• The luminescence properties were enhanced by co-doping with Ce3+.
• The energy transfer efficiency from Ce3+ to Tb3+ could reach as high as 70%.
• The quantum yield of BaY1.10Si3O10:0.05Ce3+,0.85Tb3+ was about 81.6%.

A series of novel color tunable phosphors BaY2Si3O10:Ce3+,Tb3+ have been synthesized by the solid-state reaction. The crystalline structure, photoluminescence properties, lifetimes and luminous efficiency were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence spectroscopy and quantum yield measurement system. The decay mode of Ce3+ confirms that the energy transfer occurred in BaY2Si3O10:Ce3+,Tb3+ phosphors, and the intense green emission is realized in BaY1.10Si3O10:0.05Ce3+,0.85Tb3+ on the base of high efficient energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ with an efficiency of 70%. The quantum yield of BaY1.10Si3O10:0.05Ce3+,0.85Tb3+ is 81.6%. The CIE coordinates are tuned from deep blue (0.156, 0.098) to green (0.294, 0.562) by adjusting the concentration of Tb3+. Those results indicate that the BaY2Si3O10:Ce3+,Tb3+ phosphors would be a promising candidate as an ultraviolet convertible phosphor for light emitting devices due to its efficient green emission.