Luminescence of SrGdGa3O7:RE3+(RE = Eu, Tb) phosphors and energy transfer from Gd3+ to RE3+

Abstract Eu 3+ - and Tb 3+ -activated SrGdGa 3 O 7 phosphors were synthesized by the solid-state reaction and their luminescence properties were investigated. Sr(Gd 1 − x Eu x )Ga 3 O 7 and Sr(Gd 1 − x Tb x )Ga 3 O 7 formed continuous solid solution in the range of x = 0–1.0. Unactivated SrGdGa 3 O 7 exhibited a typical characteristic excitation and emission of Gd ion. The SrGdGa 3 O 7 : x Eu 3+ and SrGdGa 3 O 7 : x Tb 3+ phosphors also showed the well-known Eu 3+ and Tb 3+ excitation and emission. The energy transfer from Gd 3+ to Eu 3+ and Tb 3+ were verified by photoluminescence spectra. The dependence of photoluminescence intensity on Eu 3+ and Tb 3+ concentration were also studied in detail and the photoluminescence (PL) intensity of SrGdGa 3 O 7 :Eu and SrGdGa 3 O 7 :Tb were compared with commercial phosphors, Y 2 O 3 :Eu and LaPO 4 :Ce,Tb. The luminescence decay measurements showed that the lifetimes of Eu 3+ and Tb 3+ were in the range of microsecond. The energy transfer from Gd 3+ to Tb 3+ was also observed in decay curve.