Tunable luminescence evolution and energy transfer behavior of Na(3)Sc(2)(PO(4))(3):Ce(3+)/Tb(3+)/Eu(3+) phosphors

A series of color-tunable emitting Na(3)Sc(2)(PO(4))(3):Ce(3+)/Tb(3+)/Eu(3+) (NSPO) phosphors were prepared by a combination of hydrothermal synthesis and low temperature calcination. The phase structure, photoluminescence and energy transfer properties of the samples were studied in detail. The tunable colors were obtained by co-doping the Tb(3+) ions into the NSPO:Ce(3+) or NSPO:Eu(3+) phosphors with varying concentrations. Under UV excitation, the energy transfers from Tb(3+) to Eu(3+) in the NSPO host occurred mainly via a dipole–dipole mechanism, and the critical distances of the ion pairs (R(c)) was calculated to be 17.94 Å by the quenching concentration method. And that, the emission colors of the NSPO:Tb(3+),Eu(3+) phosphors could be adjusted from green through yellow to red because of the energy transfer from Tb(3+) to Eu(3+). Based on its good photoluminescence properties and abundant emission colors, the NSPO:Ce(3+)/Tb(3+)/Eu(3+) phosphors might be promising as potential candidates for solid-state lighting and display fields.