Energy transfer induced improvement of luminescent efficiency and thermal stability in phosphate phosphor.

Ce3+ and Eu2+/Tb3+/Mn2+ ions codoped Ca6BaP4O17 (CBPO) phosphors have been prepared via a high-temperature solid state reaction. The structural refinement indicates that the as-prepared phosphors crystallize in monoclinic phase (C2/m) and there are two Ca sites and one Ba site in host lattice. The doping ions are determined to occupy Ca sites and the emission of Ce3+ and Eu2+ ions at different Ca sites were identified and discussed. Since bright blue and yellow emissions were observed from Ce3+and Eu2+ ions monodoped CBPO under n-UV excitation, respectively. They were codoped into the CBPO for designing energy transfer from Ce3+ to Eu2+ to improve the luminescence efficiency of Eu2+. In addition, Tb3+ ions were added into the CBPO:Ce3+ system for realizing highly efficient green emission. The energy transfer mechanisms from Ce3+ to Eu2+/Tb3+ ions were discussed. Interestingly, the incorporation of Mn2+ ions into the CBPO:Ce3+ system enhanced the blue emission of Ce3+ ions due to the modification of crystal lattice. Finally, the thermal stability of CBPO:Ce3+, Eu2+/Tb3+/Mn2+ phosphors were investigated systematically and corresponding mechanisms were proposed. Based on these results, the as-prepared CBPO:Ce3+, Eu2+/Tb3+/Mn2+ phosphors can act as potential blue, yellow, green, and emission-tunable phosphors for n-UV based white LEDs.