A Study of Tb3+ → Eu3+ Energy Transfer in Tb3+/Eu3+ Codoped Y2Mg2Al2Si2O12 Phosphors

Abstract

The work shows the design, fabrication and luminescence performance of garnet-structure Tb3+/Eu3+ doped Y2Mg2Al2Si2O12 phosphors. Upon the excitation, the representative emission of doping ions was observed. The Tb3+ → Eu3+ energy transfer in Tb3+/Eu3+ codoped Y2Mg2Al2Si2O12 phosphors was verified and surveyed via the measurements of luminescence and decay characteristics. The reducing intensity and lifetime of Tb3+ emission following the growth of Eu3+ concentration affirm the existence of Tb3+ → Eu3+ energy transfer. This process influences the emission color obviously. The energy transfer efficiency reaches 80.64% when the Eu3+ concentration is 0.10. The energy transfer induces the changeable luminescence. The emitted lights move from green region to yellow-green, yellow, yellow-red and reddish regions gradually.