Luminescence properties and energy transfer investigations of tri-doped Sr3AlO4F:Ce3+,Tb3+,Yb3+ phosphors

Abstract Novel tri-doped Sr 3 AlO 4 F phosphors with Ce 3+ , Tb 3+ and Yb 3+ were synthesized by a conventional high temperature solid-state reaction. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to characterize the phase structure. The luminescence spectra and decay lifetime curves of co-doped Sr 3 AlO 4 F:Tb 3+ ,Yb 3+ have been measured to prove energy transfer (ET) from Tb 3+ to Yb 3+ . From the photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra of tri-doped Sr 3 AlO 4 F:Ce 3+ ,Tb 3+ ,Yb 3+ , energy transfer processes from Ce 3+  → Tb 3+  → Yb 3+ was observed in Sr 3 AlO 4 F:Ce 3+ ,Tb 3+ ,Yb 3+ phosphors under the excitation of near ultraviolet light. The energy transfer efficiency from Ce 3+  → Tb 3+  → Yb 3+ was calculated. The energy transfer mechanism was also discussed. The present Ce 3+ ,Tb 3+ ,Yb 3+ tri-doped Sr 3 AlO 4 F phosphor may have ideally potential use in the down-conversion of c-Si solar cells.