Synthesis and characterization of fast-decaying bluish green phosphors of Tb3+-doped CaSi2O2N2 for 2D/3D plasma display panels

Oxynitride phosphor powders comprising of CaSi₂O₂N₂ doped with Tb³⁺ were successfully synthesized using a high-temperature solid-state reaction method. The experimentally determined photoluminescence (PL) properties of the produced phosphors meet the requirements of 2D/3D plasma display panels (PDPs). In particular, under the excitation of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) synchrotron radiation and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, emission peaks corresponding to the ⁵D₃→⁷F_J (J=6, 5, 4, 3) and ⁵D₄→⁷F_J (J=6, 5, 4, 3) transitions of Tb³⁺ ions were recorded. Monitoring the ⁵D₄→⁷F₅ emission of Tb³⁺ at 545 nm, the excitation bands were assigned to the host-related absorption as well as the 4f–5d (fd) and the 4f–4f (ff) transitions of Tb³⁺. The produced phosphors can be efficiently excited at 147 nm, and have an adequately short decay time (τ_1/10=1.14 ms).     

D3→FJ emission of Tb doped sol–gel silica

Amorphous silica samples doped with 0.1 and 1 mol% of terbium (Tb) were synthesized by the sol–gel method. In addition to the green light associated with ⁵D₄→⁷F_J transitions of Tb³⁺, the sample containing 0.1 mol% also emitted blue light as a result of ⁵D₃→⁷F_J transitions during photoluminescence (PL) measurements. As a result of concentration quenching this blue emission was not observed for the samples doped with the higher concentration (1 mol%). However the blue ⁵D₃ →⁷F_J emission was observed in the 1 mol% doped samples during cathodoluminescence (CL) measurements. Since a rough calculation indicated that the excitation rate in the CL system where the blue emission is observed may be similar to a laser PL system under conditions where the blue emission is not observed, the difference is attributed to the nature of the excitation sources. It is suggested that during the CL excitation incident electrons can reduce non-luminescent Tb⁴⁺ ions in the silica, substituting for Si⁴⁺ ions, to the excited (Tb³⁺)? state and that these are responsible for the blue emission, which does not occur during PL excitation.     

Low-temperature investigation of electronic excitations in wide-gap materials doped with RE3+ or Cr3+ ions

The processes of photon multiplication in insulators have been considered. The luminescence of Tb³⁺ ions (⁵ D ₃ → ⁷ F _J , ⁵ D ₄ → ⁷ F _J transitions) upon intracenter excitation, the optical excitation of oxyanions, or the formation of separated electrons and holes has been studied for CaSO₄ doped with Tb³⁺ and Na⁺ ions at 6–9 K. An increase in Tb³⁺ concentration from 0.2 to 4 at % and transition from single Tb³⁺-Na⁺ states to centers that contain two or three terbium ions leads to the redistribution of the luminescence intensities in favor of the ⁵ D ₄ → ⁷ F _J transitions and increase in their efficiency due to the possibility of the cooperative ⁵ D ₃ → ⁵ D ₄ and ⁷ F ₆ → ⁷ F _J transitions and the 4f ⁷5d ¹ → ⁵ D ₃ and ⁷ F ₆ → ⁵ D ₄ transitions in the two- and three-terbium centers. Based on the example of MgO single crystals with highly mobile excitons, holes, and electrons, the migration of free excitons and holes toward Cr³⁺ ions in the crystal bulk and their exit from the bulk to the surface have been revealed at 9 K. Surface losses limit the luminescence quantum yield of MgO:Cr³⁺, CaSO₄:Tb³⁺, and many other materials.     

Photoluminescence properties of Eu-doped ZnO films grown by sputtering-assisted metalorganic chemical vapor deposition

Photoluminescence (PL) properties of Eu-doped ZnO (ZnO:Eu) grown by a sputtering-assisted metalorganic chemical vapor deposition technique were investigated. In PL measurements at 300 K, the samples annealed at 600 °C for 30 min showed clear red-emission lines due to the intra-4f shell transition of ⁵D₀→⁷F_J (J=0–4) in Eu³⁺. In photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra, the PL was observed under the high-energy excitation above the band-gap energy of ZnO (indirect excitation) and the low-energy excitation resonant to the energy levels of ⁷F₀–⁵D₃ and ⁷F₀–⁵D₂ transitions in Eu³⁺ (direct excitation). The PL lifetime under the indirect excitation was shorter than that under the direct excitations. These PL properties revealed that the energy transfer from ZnO host to Eu³⁺ was accompanied under indirect excitation.     

Preparation and luminescence properties of terbium-doped lanthanum oxide nanofibers by electrospinning

Terbium-doped lanthanum oxide (La₂O₃:Tb³⁺) nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning followed by calcination at high temperature. Thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and photoluminescence (PL) were used to characterize the obtained fibers. The results reveal that the nanofibers have an average diameter of ca. 95±25 nm and are composed of pure La₂O₃ phase. Under the excitation of 274 nm light, the La₂O₃:Tb³⁺ nanofibers exhibit the characteristic emission resulting from the ⁵D₄→⁷F_J (J=3, 4, 5, 6) transitions of Tb³⁺ ions. And the PL emission intensity is stronger than that of their nanoparticle counterparts.     

Dependence of photoluminescent properties of cubic Y2O3:Tb nanocrystals on particle size and temperature

Temperature-dependent spectral properties in the cubic Y₂O₃:Tb³⁺ nanocrystals (NCs, 10-70 nm) under 488 nm excitation were studied and compared to that in the bulk. In NCs, emission lines assigned to the ⁵D₄-⁷F_J (J=1-6) transitions of Tb³⁺ ions and a broad band originated from oxygen defects were observed. As a function of temperature, two intensity maximums of the ⁵D₄-Σ⁷F_J transitions appeared in the NCs, at ∼250 and ∼500 K, while in the bulk only one maximum appeared at ∼250 K. The relative intensity of the maximum at ∼500 K to that at ∼250 K increased with decreasing particle size. The intensity maximum of the band emissions that came from the oxygen defects appeared in the range of 500-600 K. The appearance of intensity maximum as a function of temperature was attributed to the rivalry between thermal quenching process and phonon-assisted excitation. The appearance of two maxima in the NCs was attributed to the luminescence contributed by different Tb³⁺ centers, the internal and the surface. The emission for the surface Eu³⁺ centers has higher quenching temperature in contrast to that for the internal centers.     

Facile synthesis and luminescence properties of uniform and monodisperse KY3F10:Ln3+ (Ln=Eu,Ce, Tb) nanospheres

Highly uniform and monodisperse KY₃F₁₀:Ln³⁺ (Ln=Eu, Ce, Tb) nanospheres, with an average diameter of 300 nm, have been successfully prepared through a simple template-free and surfactant-free stirring method under ambient conditions. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and photoluminescence (PL) spectra were used to characterize the samples. The SEM images illustrate that these spheres were actually composed of randomly aggregated nanoparticles. The doped rare earth ions show their characteristic emission in the KY₃F₁₀ samples, i.e., Eu^{3+ 5}D₀–⁷F_J (J=1, 2, 3, 4), Tb^{3+ 5}D₄–⁷F_J (J=6, 5, 4, 3, 2) and Ce³⁺ 5d–4f transition emissions, respectively. An energy transfer phenomenon from Ce³⁺ to Tb³⁺ has been observed in KY₃F₁₀ nanospheres, and the energy transfer efficiency depends on the doping concentration of Tb³⁺ if the concentration of Ce³⁺ is fixed.     

Luminescence of CaWO4:Pr3+ and CaWO4:Tb3+ at ambient and high hydrostatic pressures

Photoluminescence spectra of CaWO₄ doped with Pr³⁺ and Tb³⁺ obtained at high hydrostatic pressures up to 315 kbar applied in a diamond anvil cell (DAC) are presented. The intensities of the luminescence from the ³P₀ state of Pr³⁺ and from the ⁵D₃ state of Tb³⁺ decreased with increasing pressure. At pressures greater than 50 kbar, the ¹D₂ → ³H_J transitions in Pr³⁺ and the ⁵D₄ → ⁷F_J transitions in Tb³⁺ dominated the spectra. At pressures greater than 100 kbar, only emissions from the lower excited states were observed. At pressures greater than 150 kbar, luminescence from the ¹D₂ and ⁵D₄ states also decreased with increasing pressure, and at a pressure of 315 kbar for CaWO₄:Pr³⁺ and 190 kbar for CaWO₄:Tb³⁺, the emissions related to the Pr³⁺ and Tb³⁺ were quenched. These effects were related to the influence of impurity trapped excitons (ITEs) on the efficiency of the f–f emission in the Pr³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions. Analysis of the emission spectra collected at different pressures allowed the energies of the ground states of the Pr³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions with respect to the band edges of the CaWO₄ host to be estimated.     

Synthesis,photoluminescence and thermoluminescence properties of LiNa3P2O7:Tb3+ green emitting phosphor

The alkaline phosphate based LiNa₃P₂O₇:Tb³⁺ phosphors are prepared by solid state reaction method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows that all the powders possess orthorhombic structure. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy studies suggest that the phosphor belong to the diphosphate family. The morphology of the phosphors is identified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Upon 378 nm excitation, the LiNa₃P₂O₇:Tb³⁺ phosphors shown emission bands at 482, 545, 588 and 620 nm corresponding to the transitions ⁵D₄→⁷F₆, ⁵D₄→⁷F₅, ⁵D₄→⁷F₄ and ⁵D₄→⁷F₃, respectively. The optimized concentration of Tb³⁺ in LiNa₃P₂O₇ phosphor is found to be 9 mol%. The concentration quenching mechanism was proved to be the exchange interaction between two nearest Tb³⁺ ions with the critical distance (R_c) of 1.18 nm. The Commission International de l'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates evidence that the phosphors emit in the green light region. Thermoluminescence properties of the prepared phosphors are studied by pre-irradiating the powders with different doses of UV irradiation. The kinetic parameters of TL glow curves are calculated using Chen's peak shape method.     

New measurements of the emission spectra of Sm2+ in KMgF3 and NaMgF3 crystals

The fluorescence of divalent samarium in KMgF₃ and NaMgF₃ crystals is investigated. The emission is observed to originate from transitions between the ⁵D_J, and ⁷F_J multiplets of the 4?⁶ configuration. More precisely, the lowest ⁵D_J level, ⁵D₀, appears to be the most efficient emitting level in the temperature range 4–300K. Contrary to what has been reported elsewhere, the Sm²⁺ fluorescence in both crystals does not exhibit any broad band emission even at room temperature. The great number of lines in the ⁵D₀→⁷F_J patterns gives evidence of the multiple-center origin of the fluorescence.     

Emission analysis of Tb:MgAl2O4 powder phosphor

This paper reports the emission analysis of green-emitting Tb³⁺-doped MgAl₂O₄ phosphors. Uniformity of the phase of the Tb³⁺-doped MgAl₂O₄ phosphor has been checked by X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique and show common bands existing in the results of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). This phosphor exhibits weak blue, orange emissions and a strong emission at λ_exci=350 nm. The blue and green-orange emissions are ascribed to ⁵D₃→⁷F_J and ⁵D₄→⁷F_J (where J=3-6) transitions of Tb³⁺ ions, respectively. These phosphors have shown a strong, more prominent green emission from ⁵D₄→⁷F₅ at 543 nm. The results have indicated that MgAl₂O₄:Tb³⁺ could be a potential candidate as agreen-emitting powder phosphor.     

Enhanced luminescence of Tb by efficient energy transfer from Ce in Sr2B5O9Cl host

Ce³⁺ and Tb³⁺ co-doped Sr₂B₅O₉Cl phosphors with intense green emission were prepared by the conventional high-temperature solid-state reaction technique. A broad band centered at about 315 nm was found in phosphor Sr₂B₅O₉Cl: Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺ excitation spectrum, which was attributed to the 4f-5d transition of Ce³⁺. The typical sharp line emissions ranging from 450 to 650 nm were originated from the ⁵D₄ → ⁷F_J (J = 6, 5, 4, 3) transitions of Tb³⁺ ions. The photoluminescence (PL) intensity of green emission from Tb³⁺ was enhanced remarkably by co-doping Ce³⁺ in the Tb³⁺ solely doped Sr₂B₅O₉Cl phosphor because of the dipole-dipole mechanism resonant energy transfer from Ce³⁺ to Tb³⁺ ions. The energy transfer process was investigated in detail. In light of the energy transfer principles, the optimal composition of phosphor with the maximum green light output was established to be Sr_1.64Ce_0.08Tb_0.1Li_0.18B₅O₉Cl by the appropriate adjustment of dopant concentrations. The PL intensity of Tb³⁺ in the phosphor was enhanced about 40 times than that of the Tb³⁺ single doped phosphor under the excitation of their optimal excitation wavelengths.     

Cathodoluminescence properties of Tb3+-doped Na3YSi2O7 phosphors

Tb³⁺-doped Na₃YSi₂O₇ phosphors were prepared by the sol–gel method and then characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and cathodoluminescence spectroscopy. The XRD results reveal that the Tb³⁺ ions have been introduced as dopants into the Na₃YSi₂O₇ host lattice. Under low-voltage electron beam excitation, the phosphors exhibit the characteristic emissions of Tb³⁺ (⁵ D _3,4→⁷ F _J , J=3–6 transitions). The luminescence color of the phosphors can be tuned from greenish-blue to bluish-green and to green by controlling the Tb³⁺ concentration within the 0.0005–0.15 (x value). The optimum Tb³⁺ doping concentration is 10 mol%, and the “dead voltage” is approximately 1.35 kV. All results indicate that the sample is a phosphor candidate for field-emission displays.     

Fluorescent properties of a green- to red-emitting Eu3+, Tb3+ codoped amorphous calcium silicate phosphor

A Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺ codoped amorphous calcium silicate phosphor was prepared by heating a Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺ codoped calcium silicate hydrate phosphor formed by liquid-phase reaction for 30 min at 900 °C. The excitation peak wavelength of the resulting phosphor was 379 nm and the emission peak wavelengths were at 542 nm, attributed to the ⁵D₄→⁷F₅ transition of Tb³⁺, and at 613 mm, attributed to the ⁵D₀→⁷F₁ transition of Eu³⁺. The intensity ratio of the two peaks could be freely controlled by varying the Eu/Tb atomic ratio of the Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺ codoped amorphous calcium silicate phosphor, allowing light to be emitted over a wide range from green to red. It was clarified that electron transfer from Tb³⁺ to Eu³⁺ is occurring.     

Ultraviolet and visible upconversion emission in Tb3+/Yb3+ co-doped fluorophosphate glasses

Ultraviolet and visible upconversion emissions in Tb³⁺/Yb³⁺ co-doped YF₃–BaF₂–Ba(PO₃)₂ glasses were observed under 980-nm laser diode excitation. The dependence of the emission intensities of Tb³⁺ on the pump power reveals that two-photon processes account for blue cooperative emission of Yb³⁺ at 476 nm and green upconversion emission of Tb³⁺ at 543 nm, and three-photon processes for ultraviolet emission of Tb³⁺ in the wavelength range of 379–435 nm. The effects of Tb³⁺ concentration on the emission intensity and the lifetime of Tb³⁺ and Yb³⁺ are investigated in detail. It is found that the cooperative energy transfer from a pair of excited Yb³⁺ ions to a ground Tb³⁺ ion is responsible for the appearance of blue and green upconversion emissions due to the ⁵D₄→⁷F _J (J=6,5,4,3) transitions of Tb³⁺, and the resonance energy transfer from Yb³⁺ to Tb³⁺ accounts for the population on the ⁵D₃,⁵G₆ level and ultraviolet upconversion emission.     

Excited state dynamics and energy transfer rates in Sr3Tb0.90Eu0.10(PO4)3

The emission spectrum of neat Sr₃Tb(PO₄)₃ upon excitation at 337 nm in the levels above ⁵D₃ is dominated by ⁵D₄ emission and no significant emission from ⁵D₃ is observed due to efficient cross relaxation involving the Tb³⁺ levels. On the other hand, the emission spectrum of the same host containing 10 mol% Eu³⁺ upon excitation at the same wavelength (in the Tb³⁺ levels) is dominated by strong emission bands from the ⁵D₀ level of Eu³⁺. This clearly indicates that Tb³⁺→Eu³⁺ energy transfer is present. The excitation spectrum of the Eu^{3+ 5}D₀ emission is dominated by Tb³⁺ bands extending in the UV region.The presence of 10 mol% Eu³⁺ in Sr₃Tb(PO₄)₃ very strongly shortens the ⁵D₄ decay time. The decay curve is not far from exponential, indicating that the energy transfer to Eu³⁺ is accompanied by fast energy migration. The transfer regimes are identified and the donor–donor and donor–acceptor transfer microparameters are quantified under the assumption of electric dipole–electric dipole interactions.     

Luminescent properties and energy transfer of double-emitting NaSrPO4:Eu2+,Tb3+ phosphor for near-UV white LEDs

Novel blue/green NaSrPO₄ phosphors co-doped with Eu²⁺ and Tb³⁺ were synthesized by a conventional solid-state reaction. Their luminescent properties were characterized by using powder X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra, lifetime, and temperature dependent emission spectra, respectively. The NaSrPO₄:Eu²⁺,Tb³⁺,Na⁺ phosphor showed an intense broad excitation band between 250 and 430 nm, which was in agreement with the near-UV chip (350–420 nm), and it exhibited two dominating emission bands at 445 and 545 nm, corresponding to the allowed 4f⁶5d¹→4f⁷(⁸S_7/2) transition of Eu²⁺ ion and the ⁵D₄→⁷F₅ transition of Tb³⁺ ion, respectively. The emission intensity and lifetime of Eu²⁺ ion decreased with the increasing concentration of Tb³⁺ ion, which strongly indicated that an effective energy transfer occurred from Eu²⁺ to Tb³⁺ in NaSrPO₄ host. The principle of the energy transfer should be the combined effect of the non-radiative resonant energy transfer and the phonon-assisted non-radiative process.     

Luminescence of Tb3+ ions in silicate glasses

The optical absorption and photoluminescence emission spectra of terbium doped sodium and lithium aluminium silicate glasses have been measured as a function of terbium concentration. Optical absorption has been measured over the wavelength range from 250 nm to 40 μm and the absorption bands attributed to Tb³⁺ ions have been identified. Luminescence emission occurs in two groups of bands in the blue and in the green. The green ⁵D₄ → ⁷F_J emission is more intense than the blue ⁵D₃ → ⁷F_J. The green luminescence is enhanced at the expense of the blue when the Tb³⁺ ion concentration reaches 0.5 molar%, which corresponds to an ion separation of 20 Å. The green emission is quenched when the Tb³⁺ ion concentration exceeds 5 molar%, corresponding to an ion separation of 9.5 Å. It is concluded that energy transfer from ⁵D₃ to ⁵D₄ levels begins at Tb³⁺ ion separations of 20 Å, and that the process is multipolar. Exchange dipole processes set in at 9.5 Å and quench the green emission. The ion separations at which the two processes occur in silicate glasses are much larger than those at which similar processes set in crystalline material. This enhancement of energy transfer processes in silicate glass is attributed to inhomogeneous broadening of the absorption and emission bands. The detailed structure of the emission bands, particularly that of the ⁵D₄ → ⁷F_6,5,4 doublets, is used to suggest that the Tb³⁺ ions occupy two different sites with rhombohedral and cubic symmetries.     

Solvothermal synthesis and luminescence properties of Tb-doped gadolinium aluminum garnet

Different concentrations of Tb³⁺ ion-doped gadolinium aluminum garnet (GAG) nanophosphors have been synthesized by solvothermal reaction method and sintered at 1300 °C. The XRD patterns confirm that the GAG phosphors sintered at 1300 °C have a garnet structure with single cubic phase. The calculated crystallite size is about 92 nm. The SEM images of the phosphors show the spherical morphology agglomerated with many small particles. The luminescence properties of these phosphors have been carried out by the emission and excitation spectra along with lifetime measurements. The excitation spectra of GAG:Tb³⁺ phosphors consist of three broad bands due to the 4f⁸→4f⁷5d¹ transition and some sharp peaks due to the 4f⁸→4f⁸ transition. The emission spectra of the phosphors reveal two colors, such as blue due to ⁵D₃→⁷F_J transitions and green due to the ⁵D₄→⁷F_J transitions. The dynamics of the phosphors have been investigated by decay curves and the cross-relaxation process and is observed at 0.5 mol% Tb³⁺ concentration.     

Spectroscopic investigations on Tb3+ doped lead fluoroborate glasses

This article presents the optical properties of Tb³⁺ in lead fluoroborate glasses of the type X PbF₂·(89–X)B₂O₃·10 Al₂O₃·1Tb₂O₃ (where X=8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 34 and 36). The standard Judd–Ofelt model was applied to the room temperature absorption intensities of Tb³⁺ (4 f⁸) to determine the phenomenological intensity parameters Ω₂, Ω₄ and Ω₆. These parameters have been used to calculate radiative transition probabilities (A_rad), lifetimes (τ_R) and branching ratios (β_R) for the excited level ⁵D₄. The predicted values of τ_R are compared with the measured values for ⁵D₄ level for eight glass compositions (Glass (A–H)). Among the eight-terbium glasses Glass A with 8 mol% of PbF₂ (as the optimum content) has revealed an intense green emission with maximum life time and higher quantum efficiency. The stimulated emission cross section σ(λ_P) is also evaluated for the ⁵D₄→⁷F_J (J=6, 5, 4 and 3) transitions.