Excitation mechanisms and effects of dopant concentration in Gd2O2S:Tb phosphor

Gadolinium oxysulfide powders doped with different Tb³⁺ concentrations were prepared from sulfur vaporization on rare earths’ basic carbonate precursors. Single-phase Gd₂O₂S samples were obtained, with Tb³⁺ doping up to 9 at%. The study of the excitation mechanisms revealed that the Tb³⁺ emission might occur after the direct Tb³⁺ excitation either by energy transfer from Gd³⁺ or from the phosphor host. The characteristic terbium emission lines were observed, resulting from the radiative decay from ⁵D₃ or ⁵D₄ to ⁷F_j levels. The cross-relaxation phenomenon was observed and its effects on the materials emission color were discussed based on the CIE diagram. By using time-resolved spectroscopy, ⁵D₃→⁷F_J and ⁵D₄→⁷F_J transitions were separated.