Solution combustion synthesis, structure and luminescence of Y3Al5O12:Tb3+ phosphors

Abstract The synthesis and optical properties of Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Tb 3+ phosphors are reported in this paper. Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Tb 3+ phosphors were synthesized by a facile solution combustion method. Citric acid traps the constituent cations and also acts as a fuel. Y 3 Al 5 O 12 (YAG) phase can crystallize through sintering at 900 °C for 2 h, and there were no intermediate phases such as YAlO 3 (YAP) and Y 4 Al 2 O 9 (YAM) in the sintering process. The excitation spectra of crystalline Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Tb 3+ are different from that of amorphous one due to the crystal field effect. The emission spectra mainly show 5 D 4  →  7 F 6 transition under UV excitation. The higher concentration quenching in Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Tb 3+ nanophosphors may be due to the confinement effect on resonant energy transfer of nanocrystalline. It is also indicated that the solution combustion synthesis method provides a good distribution of Tb 3+ activators in Y 3 Al 5 O 12 host.