Tunable luminescence, energy transfer and thermal property of a novel single-phase NaBa0.97Ce0.03B9O15:Tb3+, Sm3+, Dy3+ phosphor

Abstract

Series of NaBa0.97Ce0.03B9O15:xTb3+, ySm3+, zDy3+ are synthesized by the traditional high temperature solid-state method. Ce3+ is used as a sensitizer to improve the spectral properties of Tb3+, Sm3+ and Dy3+ by the way of energy transfer which is proved by the fluorescence decay curves. And the mechanisms of energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+, Sm3+ and Dy3+ are all determined as dipole-dipole interaction. The color of NBB:3%Ce3+, xTb3+, 0.5%Sm3+ can shift from light violet thought white to yellow. And NBB:3%Ce3+, zDy3+ can give out white light and move to green field. Moreover, the thermal stability makes NBB:3%Ce3+, 0.2%Dy3+ be a potential candidate for the self-referencing luminescent thermometry.