Luminescence properties of BaAl12O19:Tb,Ce and energy transfer between Ce3+, Tb3+

BaAl₁₂O₁₉:Tb,Ce phosphors were prepared by sol-gel technique, the crystalline structures of samples characterized by XRD, and the luminescence properties and energy transfer between Ce³⁺ and Tb³⁺ were investigated. The results indicated that the emission intensity and the excitation wavelength range of Tb³⁺ increased when Ce³⁺ was doped. It demonstrated that the Ce³⁺ added in the BaAl₁₂O₁₉:Tb could deliver energy to Tb³⁺, and Ce³⁺ was not luminous by itself. The relative emission intensity of Tb³⁺ at wavelength of 548 nm was the strongest by Tb³⁺/Ce³⁺ ratio of 2:1, when excited at 310 nm, which was the characteristic adsorption wavelength of Ce³⁺.