Luminescence properties of phosphors based on Tb3Al5O12 (TbAG) terbium-aluminum garnet

Abstract

The processes of excitation energy transfer in phosphors based on single-crystal Tb3Al5O12:Ce (TbAG:Ce) and Tb3Al5O12:Ce,Eu (TbAG:Ce,Eu) garnet films have been investigated. These films are considered to be promising materials for screens for X-ray images and luminescence converters of blue LED radiation. The conditions for excitation energy transfer from the matrix (Tb3+ cations) to Ce3+ and Eu3+ ions in TbAG:Ce and TbAG:Ce,Eu phosphors have been analyzed in detail. It is established that a cascade process of excitation energy transfer from Tb3+ ions to Ce3+ and Eu3+ ions and from Ce3+ ions to Eu3+ ions is implemented in TbAG:Ce,Eu via dipole-dipole interaction and through the Tb3+ cation sublattice.