A white emitting phosphor BaMg2(PO4)2:Ce3+, Mn2+, Tb3+: Luminescence and energy transfer

A single-phase white emitting phosphor BaMg2(PO4)2:Ce3+, Mn2+, Tb3+ is synthesized by a high temperature solid-state reaction. There has a spectral overlap between emission band of Ce3+ and excitation bands of Mn2+ and Tb3+, which may support occurrence of energy transfer (ET) from Ce3+ to Mn2+ and Tb3+. Emitting color of BaMg2(PO4)2:Ce3+, Mn2+, Tb3+ can be adjusted from blue to green via ET of Ce3+→Tb3+ and blue to red via ET of Ce3+→Mn2+, respectively. A white light emitting diode (white LED) is fabricated by combining a single-phase white emitting phosphor BMP:3%Ce3+, 5%Mn2+, 3%Tb3+ with a 365 nm LED chip, and CIE chromaticity coordinates and correlated color temperature (CCT) of the white LEDs are (0.312, 0.313) and 6217 K, respectively. Therefore, as white emitting phosphor, BaMg2(PO4)2:Ce3+/Mn2+/Tb3+ may have potential application in white LEDs.