Fluorescence and energy transfer in CaMgP2O7:Ce3+, Tb3+ phosphor

A series of Ce 3+ or Tb 3+ doped and Ce 3+ /Tb 3+ co-doped CaMgP 2 O 7 phosphors were prepared by the solid state reaction method. The fluorescence and energy transfer property of samples were studied in details. CaMgP 2 O 7 :Ce 3+ , Tb 3+ shows both an ultraviolet (UV) emitting (300–450 nm) from Ce 3+ and a yellowish-green emitting (543 nm) from Tb 3+ with considerable intensity under UV excitation (278 nm). The energy transfer mechanism from Ce 3+ to Tb 3+ ions was proved to be dipole–dipole interaction. The Ce 3+ and Tb 3+ co-doped CaMgP 2 O 7 phosphors are potential UV-convertible candidates with green light emitting in UV-LEDs for the high efficient energy transfer from Ce 3+ to Tb 3+ ions.