Microwave solid state synthesis and luminescence properties of green-emitting Gd2O2S:Tb3+ phosphor

Abstract Gd 2− x O 2 S: x Tb 3+ phosphors were prepared by the microwave solid state method, and its phase formation and morphologies were studied by the X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques. The photoluminescence (PL) properties, cathodoluminescence (CL) properties and PL thermal stability of the samples were investigated, which indicated that better luminescence properties can be obtained via the microwave method compared to the conventional high temperature solid-state method. The composition-optimized Gd 1.85 O 2 S:15%Tb 3+ exhibited strong green emission peaking at 546 nm upon excitation at 254 nm with the CIE coordinates of (0.238, 0.382). Different electric voltage and current dependent CL spectra investigations of Gd 1.85 O 2 S:15%Tb 3+ phosphor shows similar green spectral profile as PL emission and it also demonstrates the good luminescence stability suggesting its potential application as green emission component in cathode ray tube (CRT).