Energy transfer and luminescence properties of Y3Al2Ga3O12: Tb3+, Sm3+ as a multi-colour emitting phosphors

Highly thermo-stable and tunable-luminescence phosphors Y 3 Al 2 Ga 3 O 12 : Tb 3+ , Sm 3+ are synthesized by conventional solid-state reaction method. In this study, the multicolor emission, thermal stability and energy transfer mechanism in Y 3 Al 2 Ga 3 O 12 : Tb 3+ , Sm 3+ are evaluated in detail. The emission color can be tuned from green to yellow by adjusting the Tb 3+ /Sm 3+ ratio. The energy transfer efficiency from Tb 3+ to Sm 3+ reaches as high level as 62.5%. Energy transfer mechanism of Tb 3+ -Sm 3+ are related to the dipole–dipole interaction. Furthermore, Y 3 Al 2 Ga 3 O 12 : Tb 3+ , Sm 3+ phosphor shows a good thermal stability, the integrated intensity (150 °C) of YAGO: 0.5 Tb 3+ , 0.1Sm 3+ still keeps more than half of that at room temperature. Therefore, the multicolor tunable phosphor Y 3 Al 2 Ga 3 O 12 : Tb 3+ , Sm 3+ presents a potential for application in the white LEDs.