Energy transfer from Ce3+ to Eu3+ through Tb3+ chain in YPO4:Ce3+/Tb3+/Eu3+ phosphors

We synthesized a series of YPO4:Ce3+/Tb3+/Eu3+ phosphors by a solid state reaction. All of phosphors have a single phase, showing that the doping ions could not change the phase of YPO4 host. The emission intensities of Ce3+, Tb3+ and Eu3+ ions clearly depend on the Tb3+ concentrations in YPO4:Ce3+/Tb3+/Eu3+ phosphors. The emission intensity of Ce3+ emission decreases gradually but the emission intensity of Eu3+ emission increases continuously with the increasing Tb3+ concentration because of the energy transfer from Ce3+ to Eu3+ through Tb3+. On the basis of the luminescent properties of YPO4:Ce3+/Tb3+/Eu3+ phosphors, the possible energy transfer mechanism was speculated.