Energy transfer, tunable photoluminescence of Sr3Lu(PO4)3:Tb3+, Eu3+ phosphors

Abstract Series of Tb3+ or Eu3+ singly doped and Tb3+/Eu3+ co-doped Sr3Lu(PO4)3 phosphors were prepared by the high temperature solid reaction method. Compared with the excitation spectra of Tb3+ singly doped samples, the effective excitation range of Tb3+/Eu3+ co-doped samples is extended in the near UV region, and the excitation intensity in range 330–380 nm is enhanced. The existence of energy transfer from Tb3+ to Eu3+ ions was confirmed by photoluminescence spectra and lifetime measurements. Under the excitation of 377 nm, the characteristic emission peaks of Tb3+ and Eu3+ ions were both observed, and the ratio of green and red emission components was changed by increasing the concentration of Eu3+. Hence, the emission color of samples Sr3Lu1-x(PO4)3:0.08Tb3+, xEu3+ (x = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 and 0.10) can be turned from green to red region.