White‐emitting phosphor Ba2B2O5:Ce3+, Tb3+, Sm3+: Luminescence,energy transfer,and thermal stability

A series of Ba₂B₂O₅: RE (RE=Ce³⁺/Tb³⁺/Sm³⁺) phosphors were synthesized using high‐temperature solid‐state reaction. The X‐ray diffraction (XRD), luminescent properties, and decay lifetimes are utilized to characterize the properties of the phosphors. The obtained phosphors can emit blue, green, and orange‐red light when single‐doped Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺, and Sm³⁺. The energy can transfer from Ce³⁺ to Tb³⁺ and Tb³⁺ to Sm³⁺ in Ba₂B₂O₅, but not from Ce³⁺ to Sm³⁺ in Ce³⁺ and Sm³⁺ codoped in Ba₂B₂O₅. However, the energy can transfer from Ce³⁺ to Sm³⁺ through the bridge role of Tb³⁺. We obtain white emission based on energy transfer of Ce³⁺→Tb³⁺→Sm³⁺ ions. These results reveal that Ce³⁺/Tb³⁺/Sm³⁺ can interact with each other in Ba₂B₂O₅, and Ba₂B₂O₅ may be a potential candidate host for white‐light‐emitting phosphors.