Luminescence properties and energy transfer of Tb3+–Eu3+ co-doped Sr3B2O6 phosphors

A series of single-composition phosphors Sr 3 B 2 O 6 : Tb[Formula: see text], Eu[Formula: see text]have been prepared via a combustion method. The structural and luminescent properties of phosphor are investigated in detail. Under ultraviolet radiation excitation, Sr 3 B 2 O 6 : Tb[Formula: see text], Eu[Formula: see text] phosphors show the characteristic [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] transitions of both Eu[Formula: see text] and Tb[Formula: see text] and give a bright yellow emission. The investigations on photoluminescence and lifetime of Eu[Formula: see text] show that there are two sites of luminescence center of Eu[Formula: see text] in host matrix. The energy transfer from Tb[Formula: see text] ion to Eu[Formula: see text] ion are observed and the mechanism of energy transfer is dipole–quadrupole interaction.