DOE OSTI2011
Tb{sup 3+}, Yb{sup 3+}, Tm{sup 3+}, Er{sup 3+}, and Ho{sup 3+} doped Ca{sub 3}(PO{sub 4}){sub 2} were synthesized by solid-state reaction, and their luminescence properties were studied by spectra techniques. Tb{sup 3+}-doped samples can exhibit intense green emission under VUV excitation, and the brightness for the optimal Tb{sup 3+} content is comparable with that of the commercial Zn{sub 2}SiO{sub 4}:Mn{sup 2+} green phosphor. Under near-infrared laser excitation, the upconversion luminescence spectra of Yb{sup 3+}, Tm{sup 3+}, Er{sup 3+}, and Ho{sup 3+} doped samples demonstrate that the red, green, and blue tricolored fluorescence could be obtained by codoping Yb{sup 3+}-Ho{sup 3+}, Yb{sup 3+}-Er{sup 3+}, and Yb{sup 3+}-Tm{sup 3+} in Ca{sub 3}(PO{sub 4}){sub 2}, respectively. Good white upconversion emission with CIE chromaticity coordinates (0.358, 0.362) is achieved by quadri-doping Yb{sup 3+}-Tm{sup 3+}-Er{sup 3+}-Ho{sup 3+} in Ca{sub 3}(PO{sub 4}){sub 2}, in which the cross-relaxation process between Er{sup 3+} and Tm{sup 3+}, producing the {sup 1}D{sub 2}-{sup 3}F{sub 4} transition of Tm{sup 3+}, is found. The upconversion mechanisms are elucidated through the laser power dependence of the upconverted emissions and the energy level diagrams. - Graphical abstract: The CPO:0.25Tb{sup 3+}, 0.25Na{sup +} exhibits a comparable brightness to the commercial Zn{sub 2}SiO{sub 4}:Mn{sup 2+} upon 147 nm excitation. Good white light color is achieved in CPO:Yb{sup 3+}-Tm{sup 3+}-Er{sup 3+}-Ho{sup 3+} under 980 nm excitation. Highlights: > Ca{sub 3}(PO{sub 4}){sub 2}:Tb{sup 3+},Na{sup +} exhibits a comparable brightness with commercial Zn{sub 2}SiO{sub 4}:Mn{sup 2+}. > Red, green and blue colors are achieved in Yb{sup 3+}, Ho{sup 3+}, Er{sup 3+}, Tm{sup 3+} doped Ca{sub 3}(PO{sub 4}){sub 2}. > Good white emission is obtained in Yb{sup 3+}-Ho{sup 3+}-Er{sup 3+}-Tm{sup 3+} quadri-doped Ca{sub 3}(PO{sub 4}){sub 2}. > Ca{sub 3}(PO{sub 4}){sub 2}:Tb{sup 3+}, Yb{sup 3+}, Ho{sup 3+}, Er{sup 3+}, Tm{sup 3+} could be potential phosphors.