Synthesis and photoluminescent properties of Ce3+ doped terbium aluminum garnet phosphors

Ce3+-activated terbium aluminum garnet (Tb3Al5O12:Ce, TAG:Ce) powder as luminescent phosphor was synthesized by the co-precipitation method. The structure evolution and photoluminescent properties of the products were investigated by thermogravimetric–differential thermal analysis (DTA/TG), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photoluminescence (PL) analysis. After calcinating at 1000 °C for 2 h, the product was identified as pure garnet structure. The emission intensity is increased by increasing the calcination temperature linearly. TAG:Ce powder presents a broad band emission peak of Ce3+ at 552–562 nm as exciting at 460 nm. The maximum concentration of Ce3+ used to replace Tb3+ is about 1 mol% for the highest emission intensity at 552 nm. The color temperature of TAG:Ce0.03 is lower than that of YAG:Ce0.03 for warm white LED application.