Crystal structure and photoluminescence of (Y1−xCex)2Si3O3N4

Oxonitridosilicate phosphors with compositions of (Y_1−xCe_x)₂Si₃O₃N₄ (x=0−0.2) have been synthesized by solid state reaction method. The structures and photoluminescence properties have been investigated. Ce³⁺ ions have substituted for Y³⁺ ions in the lattice. The emission and excitation spectra of these phosphors show the characteristic photoluminescence spectra of Ce³⁺ ions. Based on the analyses of the diffuse reflection spectra and the PL spectra, a systematic energy diagram of Ce³⁺ ion in the forbidden band of sample with x=0.02 is given. The best doping Ce content in these phosphors is ∼2 mol%. The quenching temperature is ∼405 K for the 2 mol% Ce content sample. The luminescence decay properties were investigated. The primary studies indicate that these phosphors are potential candidates for application in three-phosphor-converted white LEDs.     

Temperature-dependent photoluminescence properties of (Y, Lu)3Al5O12:Ce phosphors for white LEDs applications

The effects of the excitation wavelength, Ce³⁺ concentration and chemical substitution on the thermal quenching of Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺ (YAG:Ce³⁺) phosphors were investigated over a temperature range from 30 to 250 °C. The quenching behavior exhibits a complex dependence on the excitation wavelength and Ce³⁺ concentration, which can be attributed to temperature-dependent absorption strength of the different f-d absorption bands and thermally activated concentration quenching with or without energy migrations between Ce³⁺ ions, respectively. With increasing Lu³⁺content the luminescence of (Y, Lu)₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺ phosphors shows a pronounced blueshift, and simultaneously the temperature quenching is obviously improved due to a decrease in Stokes shift.     

Luminescence properties and energy transfer investigations of BaAl2B2O7:Ce3+,Tb3+ phosphors

Ce³⁺ and Tb³⁺ co-doped BaAl₂B₂O₇ phosphors were synthesized by the solid-state method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to characterize the phase structure. The photoluminescent properties of Ce³⁺ and Tb³⁺ co-doped BaAl₂B₂O₇ phosphors were investigated by using the photoluminescence emission and excitation spectra. Under the excitation of near ultraviolet (n-UV) light, BaAl₂B₂O₇:Ce³⁺,Tb³⁺ phosphors exhibited blue emission corresponding to the f–d transition of Ce³⁺ ions and green emission bands corresponding to the f–f transition of Tb³⁺ ions, respectively. Effective energy transfer occurred from Ce³⁺ to Tb³⁺ in BaAl₂B₂O₇ host due to the observed spectra overlap between the emission spectrum of Ce³⁺ ion and the excitation spectrum of Tb³⁺ ion. The energy transfer efficiency from Ce³⁺ ion to Tb³⁺ ion was also calculated to be 71%. Furthermore, the concentration quenching and critical distance of BaAl₂B₂O₇:Ce³⁺,Tb³⁺ phosphors were also discussed. The energy transfer from Ce³⁺ to Tb³⁺ in BaAl₂B₂O₇ host was demonstrated to be resonant type via a dipole–dipole interaction mechanism with the energy transfer critical distance of 16.13 Å.     

Luminescent properties and energy transfer of Y3Al5O12:Ce3+, Ln3+ (Ln=Tb,Pr) prepared by polymer-assisted sol–gel method

Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺, Pr³⁺ and Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺ nano-particles have been synthesized by polymer-assisted sol–gel method. Crystal structure, luminescent properties and energy transfer of the phosphors are analyzed. XRD study of polycrystalline powders shows that all the samples are of YAG phase without impurity. Photoluminescence (PL) emission and excitation spectra illustrate that in YAG:Ce, Pr phosphors, energy transfer occurs mutually between Ce³⁺ and Pr³⁺, while in YAG:Ce, Tb systems, only one-way path energy transfer of Tb³⁺→Ce³⁺ is observed.     

Luminescence properties and energy transfer in Ba2Y(BO3)2Cl:Ce3+,Tb3+ phosphors

Novel green-emitting Ba₂Y(BO₃)₂Cl:Ce³⁺,Tb³⁺ phosphors were synthesized by a solid-state method. X-ray diffraction and photoluminescence spectra were utilized to characterize the structures and luminescence properties of the as-synthesized phosphors, respectively. Ba₂Y(BO₃)₂Cl:Ce³⁺,Tb³⁺ phosphors exhibit blue and green emission bands under the excitation of near-ultraviolet light. An asymmetric blue emission originates from the Ce³⁺ ion, whereas the green emission originates from the Tb³⁺ ion. A spectral overlap is found between the emission band of the Ce³⁺ ion and the excitation band of the Tb³⁺ ion, which supports the occurrence of the energy transfer from the Ce³⁺ ion to the Tb³⁺ ion. Meanwhile, the energy transfer is thoroughly investigated by their photoluminescence decay behaviors. The energy-transfer efficiency from the Ce³⁺ ion to the Tb³⁺ ion is also calculated, and a possible mechanism is proposed.     

New fast-decaying green and red phosphors for 3D application of plasma display panels

Fast-decaying phosphors are essential for a 3D plasma display panel (PDP) with high image quality. However, conventional green and red PDP phosphors have slow-decaying characteristics. We present the luminescence properties of new phosphors for 3D PDP application. Decay times of Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺, (Y,Gd)Al₃(BO₃)₄:Tb³⁺, and (Y,Gd)₂O₃:Eu³⁺ were significantly shorter than those of conventional PDP phosphors. CIE chromaticity coordinates and luminescence efficiencies of the phosphors were also suitable for PDP application. The development of fast-decaying PDP phosphors has enabled commercialization of 3D/2D switchable PDP television for the first time in PDP industry.     

Green light emission by Ce3+ and Tb3+ co-doped Sr3MgSi2O8 phosphors for potential application in ultraviolet whitelight-emitting diodes

Sr₃MgSi₂O₈:Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺ phosphor samples were prepared using a solid-state reaction technique, and the photoluminescence properties and energy transfer were investigated. Effective energy transfer occurred in Ce³⁺/Tb³⁺ co-doped Sr₃MgSi₂O₈ phosphors. Co-doping of Ce³⁺ was found to enhance the emission intensity of Tb³⁺ to a certain extent by transferring energy to Tb³⁺. The Ce³⁺/Tb³⁺ energy transfer was thoroughly investigated through its emission/excitation spectra and photoluminescence decay behavior. The color emitted by Sr₃MgSi₂O₈:Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺ phosphors varied from blue to green and can be controlled by altering the concentration ratio of Ce³⁺ to Tb³⁺. These results indicate that Sr₃MgSi₂O₈:Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺ may be useful as a green-emitting phosphor for ultraviolet whitelight-emitting diodes.     

Synthesis and characterization of monodisperse spherical core-shell structured SiO2@Y3Al5O12:Ce3+/Tb3+ phosphors for field emission displays

Nanocrystalline Y₃Al₅O₁₂: Ce³⁺/Tb³⁺ (average crystalline size 30 nm) phosphor layers were coated on non-aggregated, monodisperse and spherical SiO₂ particles by the sol-gel method, resulting in the formation of core-shell structured SiO₂@Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺/Tb³⁺ particles. X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence, cathodoluminescence spectra, as well as lifetimes were utilized to characterize the core-shell structured SiO₂@Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺/Tb³⁺ phosphor particles. The obtained core-shell structured phosphors consist of well-dispersed submicron spherical particles with a narrow size distribution. The thickness of the Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺/Tb³⁺ shells on the SiO₂ cores (average size about 500 nm, crystalline size about 30 nm) could be easily tailored by varying the number of deposition cycles (100 nm for four deposition cycles). Under the excitation of ultraviolet and low-voltage electron beams (1–3 kV), the core-shell SiO₂@Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺/Tb³⁺ particles show strong yellow-green and green emission corresponding to the 5d–4f emission of Ce³⁺ and ⁵D₄–⁷F _J (J = 6, 5, 4, 3) emission of Tb³⁺, respectively. These phosphors may have potential application in field emission displays.     

Effects of La3+ doping on the optical characteristics and color tunability of (Mg,Mn)(Y,Ce, La)4Si3O13 phosphors

The doping effects of La³⁺ ions on the photoluminescence properties and color tunability of (Mg, Mn)(Y, Ce, La)₄Si₃O₁₃ phosphors have been elaborated in this study. On increasing the La³⁺ concentration in the host, tunability of excitation wavelength is achieved first, which in turn leads to the blue shift in the wavelength of Ce³⁺ emission. The high-energy emission shift of Ce³⁺ ions results from the change in the crystal field around Ce³⁺ ions. With the incorporation of La³⁺ ions, the chromaticity coordinates shift towards white-light region showing the tunable characteristics. Moreover, the correlated color temperature (CCT) change from warm white to cool white light region with different concentration of La³⁺ ions. The variation of different excitation wavelength tunes the emission thus augmenting the probability of (Mg, Mn)(Y, Ce, La)₄Si₃O₁₃ phosphors for potential application in optical devices.     

Eu/Tb ions co-doped white light luminescence Y2O3 phosphors

Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺ phosphors with white emission are prepared with different doping concentration of Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions and synthesizing temperatures from 750 to 950 °C by the co-precipitation method. The resulted phosphors were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The results of XRD indicate that the crystallinity of the synthesized samples increases with enhancing the firing temperature. The photoluminescence spectra indicate the Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ co-doped Y₂O₃ phosphors show five main emission peaks: three at 590, 611 and 629 nm originate from Eu³⁺ and two at 481 and 541 nm originate from Tb³⁺, under excitation of 250-320 nm irradition. The white light luminescence color could be changed by varying the excitation wavelength. Different concentrations of Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions were induced into the Y₂O₃ lattice and the energy transfer from Tb³⁺→Eu³⁺ ions in these phosphors was found. The Commission International de l’Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity shows that the Y₂O₃:Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺ phosphors can obtain an intense white emission.     

Investigation of structural features of the Y3Al5O12: Ce3+/Lu2O3 crystal phosphors formed by the colloidal chemical method

The specific features of the crystal structure of crystal phosphors Y₃Al₅O₁₂: Ce³⁺/Lu₂O₃ (Lu₂O₃: Ce) synthesized by the colloidal chemical method have been investigated by neutron diffraction at room temperature. The influence of the method used for introducing Lu₂O₃ into the system on the structure and luminescence properties of the samples has been analyzed. The investigation has revealed that the spectra of the samples prepared under the most nonequilibrium conditions are characterized by the Stokes shift and high photoluminescence intensity. This has been explained by the disorder of their crystal structure due to the formation of stable associates of defects.     

Luminescence and scintillation properties of Y<Subscript>3</Subscript>A<Subscript>l5</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript>:Ce single crystals and single-crystal films

Luminescence and scintillation properties of Y₃A_l5O₁₂:Ce single crystals grown from the melt by the Czochralski and horizontal directed crystallization methods in various gas media and Y₃A_l5O₁₂:Ce single-crystal films grown by liquid-phase epitaxy from a melt solution based on a PbO-B₂O₃ flux have been comparatively analyzed. The strong dependence of scintillation properties of Y₃A_l5O₁₂:Ce single crystals on their growth conditions and concentrations of Y_Al antisite defects and vacancy defects has been established. Vacancy defects are involved in Ce³⁺ ion emission excitation as the centers of intrinsic UV luminescence and trapping centers. It has been shown that Y₃A_l5O₁₂:Ce single-crystal films are characterized by faster scintillation decay kinetics than single crystals and a lower content of slow components in Ce³⁺ ion luminescence decay during high-energy excitation due to the absence of Y_Al antisite defects in them and low concentration of vacancy defects. At the same time, the light yield of Y₃A_l5O₁₂:Ce single-crystal films is comparable to that of single crystals grown by directed crystallization due to the quenching effect of the Pb²⁺ ion impurity as a flux component and is slightly lower (∼25%) than the light yield of single crystals grown by the Czochralski method.     

Luminescence properties of Y3Al5O12:Ce nanoceramics

Comparative analysis of the luminescent properties of Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce (YAG:Ce) transparent optical ceramics (OС) with those of single crystal (SC) and single crystalline film (SCF) analogues has been performed under excitation by pulsed synchrotron radiation in the fundamental absorption range of YAG host. It has been shown that the properties of YAG:Ce OC are closer to the properties of the SCF counterpart, where Y_Al antisite defects are completely absent, rather than to the properties of SC of this garnet with large concentration of Y_Al antisite defects. At the same time, the luminescence spectra of YAG:Ce OC show weak emission bands in the 200-470 nm range related to Y_Al antisite defects and charged oxygen vacancies (F⁺ and F centers). YAG:Ce ОС also possesses significantly larger contribution of slow components in the Ce³⁺ luminescence decay under high-energy excitation in comparison with SC and SCF of this garnet due to the involvement of antisite defects, charged oxygen vacancies as well as boundaries of grains in the energy transfer processes from the host to the Ce³⁺ ions.     

Violet-blue-shift of emission and enhanced luminescent properties of Ca3(PO4)2:Ce3+ phosphor induced by substitution of Gd3+ ions

Ca₃(PO₄)₂:1mol%Ce³⁺/xGd³⁺ (where x = 0.5, 1.0, 3.0 and 5.0 mol%) phosphors were synthesized by the conventional combustion synthesis method. The X-ray diffraction patterns showed their rhombohedral structure with space group of R3c. The optical properties including reflectance, excitation and emission were investigated. The band gaps of the phosphors were calculated from diffuse reflectance spectra data using the Kubelka–Munk function. The photoluminescence (PL) excitation spectra exhibited the broadband 4f–5d transition of Ce³⁺ ions centered at ~265 nm. The PL emission properties of the Ca₃(PO₄)₂:Ce³⁺/Gd³⁺ phosphors were studied as a function of the Gd³⁺ ion concentration. The Ca₃(PO₄)₂:Ce³⁺/Gd³⁺ phosphor had a wide emission band ranging from 320 to 400 nm, and peaking at 365 nm. This emission is ascribed to the transition from the higher 5d band to ²F_7/2, ²F_5/2 states of the Ce³⁺ ion. The 365 nm peak shifted to longer wavelengths with increasing concentration of the Gd³⁺ ion. The CIE chromaticity diagram of Ca₃(PO₄)₂:Ce³⁺/Gd³⁺ phosphor showed tunable emission colour from violet to violet-blue, suggesting that this phosphor can act as a source of violet-blue colour for application in information displays, phototherapy and photoluminescent liquid crystal displays.     

Enhanced luminescence in transparent glass ceramics containing BaYF5: Ce3+ nanocrystals

Ce³⁺ doped transparent glass ceramics containing BaYF₅ nanocrystals were prepared by controlled heat treatment of 45SiO₂–15Al₂O₃–10Na₂O–24BaF₂–6Y₂O₃–0.5Ce₂O₃ (mol%) glass. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy data have revealed the formation of BaYF₅ nanocrystals. Both photoluminescence and X-ray excited luminescence spectra have shown a blue-shift of the emission band of Ce³⁺ on ceramization, which is consistent with the Ce³⁺ environment evolving from a glassy oxide to a fluoride phase. The luminescent intensity of Ce³⁺ ions in the transparent glass ceramics is greatly enhanced compared with the precursor glass under ultraviolet and X-ray excitation. This could be attributed to the Ce³⁺ ions present in the BaYF₅ crystalline phase.     

Energy transfer and luminescent properties of Ce, Cr co-doped Y3Al5O12

The phosphors in the system Y_3−xAl_5-yO₁₂:xCe³⁺,yCr³⁺ were synthesized by solid-state reactions and their photoluminescence properties were investigated. These phosphors have absorption in the visible light region and give luminescence in the far-red region (∼688 nm), which are suitable for the application in the device of luminescent solar concentrator (LSC). In these phosphors, Ce³⁺ located at Y³⁺ site can effectively transfer its absorbed energy to Cr³⁺ at Al³⁺ site.     

Photoluminescence properties and synthesis of nano-sized YAG: Ce phosphor via novel synthesis method

This study reports an approach for enhancing the luminescent properties of Y₃Al₅O₁₂: Ce³⁺_0.07 using an organic compound precursor. The Y₃Al₅O₁₂: Ce³⁺_0.07 nano-sized phosphors had a relatively uniform particle size, approximately 50-80 nm, when sintered at 1200 °C for 1 h. The photoluminescence results showed the maximum peak intensity when the concentration of Ce³⁺ ions was 0.07 mol. The results suggest that nano-sized phosphors synthesized from organic compound precursors can be used as alternative efficiency emitting phosphors in the LED applications.     

Luminescent characteristics of LiCaBo3:M (M=Eu, Sm, Tb, Ce, Dy) phosphor for white LED

LiCaBO₃:M (M=Eu³⁺, Sm³⁺, Tb³⁺, Ce³⁺, Dy³⁺) phosphors were synthesized by a normal solid-state reaction using CaCO₃, H₃BO₃, Li₂CO₃, Na₂CO₃, K₂CO₃, Eu₂O₃, Sm₂O₃, Tb₄O₇, CeO₂ and Dy₂O₃ as starting materials. The emission and excitation spectra were measured by a SHIMADZU RF-540 UV spectrophotometer. And the results show that these phosphors can be excited effectively by near-ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UVLED), and emit red, green and blue light. Consequently, these phosphors are promising phosphors for white light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Under the condition of doping charge compensation Li⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺, the luminescence intensities of these phosphors were increased.     

Spectral properties of Ce3+ doped yttrium lanthanum oxide transparent ceramics

Ce3+-doped yttrium lanthanum oxide (Y0.9La0.1)2O3 transparent ceramics is fabricated with nanopowders and sintered in H2 atmosphere. The spectral properties of Ce:(Y0.9La0.1)2O3 transparent ceramics are investigated. There appear two characteristic absorption peaks of Ce3+ ions at 230 nm and 400 nm, separately. It is found that Ce3+ ions can efficiently produce emission at 384 nm from (Y0.9La0.1)2O3 transparent ceramic host, while the emission is completely quenched in Re2O3 (Re=Y, Lu, La) host materials.     

Synthesis and optical properties of Ce-doped Y3Mg2AlSi2O12 phosphors

Y_3−xMg₂AlSi₂O₁₂:Ce_x³⁺ (x=0.015, 0.03 and 0.06) phosphors possessing garnet crystal structure were synthesized by the sol–gel combustion technique. The samples were characterized by application of powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, thermal quenching (TQ) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, luminous efficacies (LE), color points and quantum efficiencies (QE) were calculated. Optical properties were studied as a function of Ce³⁺ concentration and annealing temperature. XRD analysis revealed that sintering of polycrystalline Y₃Mg₂AlSi₂O₁₂:Ce³⁺ powders at 1550 °C results in nearly single-phase garnet materials. Phosphors showed broad emission band in the range of 500–750 nm and had the maximum intensity at 600 nm, which results in strongly red-shifted phosphors compared with conventional YAG:Ce phosphors emitting at 560 nm. However, strong concentration quenching has also been observed, probably due to increased Stokes shift.