Tunable luminescence evolution and energy transfer behavior of Na3Sc2(PO4)3:Ce3+/Tb3+/Eu3+ phosphors

A series of color-tunable emitting Na3Sc2(PO4)3:Ce3+/Tb3+/Eu3+ (NSPO) phosphors were prepared by a combination of hydrothermal synthesis and low temperature calcination. The phase structure, photoluminescence and energy transfer properties of the samples were studied in detail. The tunable colors were obtained by co-doping the Tb3+ ions into the NSPO:Ce3+ or NSPO:Eu3+ phosphors with varying concentrations. Under UV excitation, the energy transfers from Tb3+ to Eu3+ in the NSPO host occurred mainly via a dipole–dipole mechanism, and the critical distances of the ion pairs (Rc) was calculated to be 17.94 Å by the quenching concentration method. And that, the emission colors of the NSPO:Tb3+,Eu3+ phosphors could be adjusted from green through yellow to red because of the energy transfer from Tb3+ to Eu3+. Based on its good photoluminescence properties and abundant emission colors, the NSPO:Ce3+/Tb3+/Eu3+ phosphors might be promising as potential candidates for solid-state lighting and display fields.