Preparation and photoluminescence properties of novel color-tunable MgY4Si3O13:Ce3+, Tb3+ phosphors for ultraviolet light-emitting diodes

Oxide-based phosphors MgY4Si3O13 codoped with Ce3+ and Tb3+ were prepared in this study. Broad Ce3+ excitation spectra with the highest intensity at 330 nm were found for MgY4Si3O13:Ce3+, Tb 3+ phosphors. Emission lines ranging from 450 to 650 nm originated from the 5D4¡÷7FJ (J=6, 5, 4, 3) transitions of Tb3+ ions. The energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ occurred effectively in MgY4Si3O 13:Ce3+, Tb3+ with a dipole-quadrupole interaction. Codoping Ce3+ with Tb3+ significantly increased the emission intensity of the prepared phosphors. Increasing the Tb3+ concentration led to the chromaticity coordinates of the prepared samples greatly shifting from the blue to the green region, extending the applicability of MgY4Si3O13:Ce 3+, Tb3+ phosphors in solid-state lighting. ? 2010 The American Ceramic Society.