Photoluminescence properties and energy transfer of Ce3+, Eu2+ co-doped Sr3Gd(PO4)3 phosphor

Abstract: Novel Ce3+- and Eu2+-coactivated Sr3Gd(PO4)3 phosphors were prepared by high temperature solid-state reactions. The Sr3Gd(PO4)3:Ce3+,Eu2+ phosphor showed two emission bands under 310nm excitation: the one observed at 374nm was assigned to the 4f 05d 1 →4f 1 transition of Ce3+ ion emission, and the other found at 518nm was attributed to the 4f 65d 1 →4f 7 transition of Eu2+ ions. The energy transfer from Ce3+ to Eu2+ in Sr3Gd(PO4)3 host matrix was studied and demonstrated to be a resonant type via a dipole–quadrupole mechanism. Furthermore, we have calculated the critical distance for Ce3+ →Eu2+ energy transfer to be about 32.02Å by the concentration-quenching method. Preliminary results indicate that the phosphor might be a promising green phosphor for UV-based white LEDs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]