Synthesis of mono-phase La2Si6O3N8:Ce3+,Tb3+ blue-green phosphors with direct silicon nitridation and their photoluminescence properties

•Mono-phase La2Si6O3N8:Ce3+ phosphors were produced via direct silicon nitridation.•Energy-transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ in La2Si6O3N8 phosphors was first studied.•The emission spectra can be tuned from blue to green.•Energy-transfer is predominantly governed by dipole–dipole interaction mechanism.

Mono-phase La2Si6O3N8:Ce3+ phosphors co-doped with Tb3+ were produced via a direct silicon nitridation (DSN) method at 1500 °C. The produced phosphors were characterized with regards to their crystalline structure, microstructure, photoluminescence properties, and lifetime. The decay mode of Ce3+ suggests that energy transfer occurs in La2Si6O3N8:Ce3+,Tb3+ phosphors. Intense green emission was recorded from La1.4Si6O3N8:0.2Ce3+,0.4Tb3+ and qualifies these phosphors for further consideration as promising candidates for ultraviolet convertible phosphors in light-emitting devices.

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