Luminescence of LiTb(PO):Sm and energy transfer from Tb to Sm under vacuum ultraviolet-ultraviolet excitation.

The photoluminescence (PL) of LiTb(PO), LiGdSm(PO), and LiTbSm(PO) under vacuum ultraviolet (VUV)/ultraviolet (UV) excitation were studied. We observed the VUV-UV sensitization of Sm emission (561 nm, 601 nm, 649 nm, and 710 nm) by Tb in LiTb(PO):Sm, which leads to the yellow light emission (486 nm, 546 nm, 561 nm, 587 nm, 601 nm, 621 nm, 649 nm, and 710 nm) of LiTb(PO):Sm phosphor under UV and VUV excitation. The emission is a result of partial energy transfer from Tb to Sm, which is discussed in detail in terms of the excitation and emission spectra and decay curves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]