Insight into luminescent properties,energy transfer and thermal stability of NaBa4(AlB4O9)2Cl3:Ce3+, Tb3+ phosphors

A series of Ce³⁺ and Tb³⁺ singly- and co-doped NaBa₄(AlB₄O₉)₂Cl₃ (NBAC) phosphors have been synthesized via high-temperature solid state route. The crystal structure, morphology, photoluminescent properties, thermal properties and energy transfer process between Ce³⁺ and Tb³⁺ were systematically investigated. The structure refinements indicated that the phosphors based on NBAC crystallized in P42nm polar space group in monoclinic phase. The emission color could be tuned from blue (0.1595, 0.0955) to green (0.2689, 0.4334) via changing the ratio of Ce³⁺/Tb³⁺. The energy transfer mechanism of Ce³⁺/Tb³⁺ was verified to be dipole–quadrupole interaction via the examination of decay times of Ce³⁺ based on Dexter's theory. The good thermal stability showed the intensities of Ce³⁺ at 150°C were about 66.9% and 64.88% in NBAC:0.09Ce³⁺ and NBAC:0.09Ce³⁺, 0.07Tb³⁺ of that at room temperature, and the emission intensities of Tb³⁺ remained 102.41% in NBAC:0.11Tb³⁺ and 95.22% in NBAC:0.09Ce³⁺, 0.07Tb³⁺ due to the nephelauxetic shielding effect and the highly asymmetric rigid framework structure of NBAC. The maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of Ce³⁺ in NBAC:0.09Ce³⁺, yTb³⁺ phosphors could reach 43.38% at y = 0.13. Overall, all the results obtained suggested that NBAC:Ce³⁺, Tb³⁺ could be a promising option for n-UV pumped phosphors.