Blue-white-green tunable luminescence from Ba_2Gd_2Si_4O_13:Ce^3+,Tb^3+ phosphors excited by ultraviolet light

The novel Ba2Gd2Si4O13:Ce3+,Tb3+ phosphors were systemically investigated by fluorescent method for the first time. Through an efficient energy transfer process, the obtained phosphors exhibit both a blue emission of Ce3+ and a yellowish green emission of Tb3+ with considerable intensity under near-ultraviolet excitation (300-370 nm). Tuning of the content of Tb3+ can generate the varied hues from blue to white and eventually to yellowish green. The quantum efficiency of the white phosphor Ba2(Gd0.88Ce0.02Tb0.1)2Si4O13 is 82.3% of commercial ZnS:Ag+,Cl- phosphor. Our results demonstrate that the potential application of these phosphors in solid-state lighting and (or) other areas.