White light obtainment via tricolor luminescent centers and energy transfer in Ca3ZrSi2O9:Eu3+,Bi3+,Tb3+ phosphors

Bi3+, Eu3+ and Tb3+ triple-doped white light emitting phosphors Ca3ZrSi2O9:Eu3+,Bi3+,Tb3+ were successfully synthesized. In Bi3+ and Eu3+ co-doped phosphors Ca2.83-yZrSi2O9:0.17Eu3+,yBi3+, the blue light from Bi3+ ions and red light from Eu3+ ions are simultaneously observed. Energy transfer exists from Bi3+ to Eu3+ ions, and the energy transfer efficiency is 19.58% in phosphor Ca2.68ZrSi2O9:0.17Eu3+,0.15Bi3+.The CIE chromaticity coordinates of Bi3+ and Eu3+ co-doped phosphors, Ca2.83-yZrSi2O9:0.17Eu3+,yBi3+, are just located in the orange and pink region. White light emitting was finally obtained in Eu3+, Bi3+, Tb3+ triply doped phosphors Ca2.74-zZrSi2O9:0.17Eu3+,0.09Bi3+,zTb3+, through further doping green light emitting Tb3+ ions (5D3,4 - 7FJ’ transitions). Energy transfer also exists from Bi3+ to Tb3+ ions, and this energy transfer efficiency is 11.95% in phosphor Ca2.61ZrSi2O9:0.17Eu3+,0.09Bi3+,0.13Tb3+. The CIE chromaticity coordinates are always in the white light region from 25 °C to 275 °C for the triply doped phosphor Ca2.24ZrSi2O9:0.17Eu3+,0.09Bi3+,0.50Tb3+.