Photoluminescence characterization and energy transfer of NaBa1−x−yPO4:xCe3+, yTb3+ phosphors

A series of NaBa1−x−yPO4:xCe3+, yTb3+ phosphors were synthesized by solid-state reaction method. The crystal structure, photoluminescence emission and excitation spectra and decay times of the phosphors were carefully investigated. The results revealed that an efficient energy transfer occurred from Ce3+ to Tb3+ ions in NaBaPO4 host by means of dipole-dipole interactions and the critical distance of the energy transfer was about 0.638 nm. Moreover, the phosphor emitted strong green emission under UV excitation, indicating that the phosphors are potentially useful as a highly efficient, green-emitting phosphor.