M2Y8(SiO4)6O2: Tb3+ (M = Ca, Sr) phosphors: Sol–gel synthesis from N-2-aminoethylic-3-aminopropyldiethoxysilane and different photoluminescence behavior

M2Y8(SiO4)6O2: Tb3+ (M = Ca, Sr) phosphors have been synthesized with a new silicon source silane crosslinking reagent (N-2-aminoethylic-3-aminopropyldiethoxysilane [NH2(CH2)2NH(CH2)3SiCH3(OCH3)2], abbreviated as AEAPMMS) through the sol–gel process, both of which present the characteristic emission 5D4 → 7FJ (J = 6, 5, 4, 3) of Tb3+ ions. It is interesting to be found that the high energy level blue emission (5D3 → 7FJ (J = 6, 5, 4, 3) transition) still can be found in the emission spectrum of Ca2Y8(SiO4)6O2: Tb3+ while it disappears in the emission spectrum of Sr2Y8(SiO4)6O2: Tb3+ for the cross-relaxation-induced quenching.