Preparation and luminescence properties of Tb3+ -doped garnet Y2 Mg2 Al2 Si2 O12 luminescent materials.

Abstract

We prepared Y2 Mg2 Al2 Si2 O12 :xTb3+ (x = 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.10, 0.12, 0.14 and 0.16) luminescent materials using a nodulizing procedure. The phase and luminescence properties of these materials were investigated. X-ray diffraction results demonstrated that Tb3+ ions doped into Y2 Mg2 Al2 Si2 O12 hosts successfully and the Y2 Mg2 Al2 Si2 O12 :xTb3+ materials showed a pure cubic phase. Y2 Mg2 Al2 Si2 O12 :xTb3+ materials had the characteristic Tb3+ emission bands derived from 5 D4 →7 F6 , 7 F5 , 7 F4 , and 7 F3 transitions when excited at 365 nm. The green emission band that derived from the 5 D4 →7 F5 transition was highest due to the high possibility of both electric-dipole and magnetic-dipole transitions. Emission spectra indicated that the critical concentration of Tb3+ in the Y2 Mg2 Al2 Si2 O12 host was 0.14. The concentration quenching of Y2 Mg2 Al2 Si2 O12 :Tb3+ was derived from a dipole-dipole interaction.