Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of Ba₂CaZn₂Si₆O₁₇:Tb³⁺ green phosphor

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • A novel Tb³⁺-activated Ba₂CaZn₂Si₆O₁₇ phosphors was synthesized by solid state reaction method. • The dominant PL emission peak of Ba₂CaZn₂Si₆O₁₇:Tb³⁺ phosphor was 547 nm under excitation at 240 nm. • The optimal Tb³⁺ concentration in Ba₂CaZn₂Si₆O₁₇:Tb³⁺ phosphor is 10 mol%. • CIE color coordinates were calculated. - Abstract: Ba₂Ca_1−xZn₂Si₆O₁₇:xTb³⁺ green emitting phosphors with different concentrations (x = 0.01, 0.03, 0.06, 0.08, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20) of Tb³⁺ ions were synthesized using solid state reaction method. The phase composition of the synthesized phosphors was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). The morphology was studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The excitation and emission spectra were measured to characterize the photoluminescence properties. The optimum Tb³⁺ concentration in this phosphor was 10 mol%. The Tb–Tb critical distance was calculated to be ∼19.6 Å. The dipole–dipole interaction dominates in the non-radiative energy transfer between the Tb³⁺ ions and causes the concentration quenching. The decay time value of the Ba₂CaZn₂Si₆O₁₇:0.10Tb³⁺ phosphor is about 4.86 ms. The CIE coordinates were calculated as x = 0.242, y = 0.383. The quantum efficiency for x = 0.10 sample excited by 240 nm is 14.3%.