Synthesis and luminescence properties of a bluish-green emitting phosphor Ba3(PO4)2: Ce3+, Tb3+

•A color-tunable bluish-green emitting phosphor Ba3(PO4)2: Ce3+, Tb3+ was obtained.•The photoluminescence properties were enhanced by introducing the Ce3+.•Emission intensity of the phosphor at 150 °C was 76.73% of that at room temperature.

A series of bluish-green emitting phosphors Ba3(PO4)2: Ce3+, Tb3+ were synthesized via a conventional high temperature solid-state route. The crystal structures, photoluminescence properties, fluorescence lifetimes, energy transfer and photoluminescence thermal quenching were systematically discussed in detail. An overlap of 370–387 nm is observed between the excitation spectrum of Ba3(PO4)2: Tb3+ and emission spectrum of Ba3(PO4)2: Ce3+, which implies an energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ in Ba3(PO4)2: Ce3+, Tb3+ phosphors. Due to the energy transfer, firstly, an enhanced green emission is realized with an energy transfer efficiency of 44.69% in Ba2.54(PO4)2: 0.18Ce3+, 0.28Tb3+. Secondly, a color-tunable bluish-green light is approached by adjusting the doping concentration of Tb3+. Lastly, the integrated emission intensity of the full emission spectrum declines with the temperature upwising from 25 to 200 °C, and as the temperature reaches 150 °C, it remains about 76.73% of that at room temperature. The present work suggests that the Ba3(PO4)2: Ce3+, Tb3+ phosphors may be a promising candidate as an near ultraviolet convertible phosphor for solid-state lighting.