Synthesis, Structure, and Photoluminescence Properties of Novel KBaSc 2 (PO 4 ) 3 :Ce 3+ /Eu 2+ /Tb 3+ Phosphors for White‐Light‐Emitting Diodes

A series of novel KBaSc 2 (PO 4 ) 3 :Ce 3+ /Eu 2+ /Tb 3+ phosphors are prepared using a solid‐state reaction. X‐ray diffraction analysis and Rietveld structure refinement are used to check the phase purity and crystal structure of the prepared samples. Ce 3+ ‐ and Eu 2+ ‐doped phosphors both have broad excitation and emission bands, owing to the spin‐ and orbital‐allowed electron transition between the 4f and 5d energy levels. By co‐doping the KBaSc 2 (PO 4 ) 3 :Eu 2+ and KBaSc 2 (PO 4 ) 3 :Ce 3+ phosphors with Tb 3+ ions, tunable colors from blue to green can be obtained. The critical distance between the Eu 2+ and Tb 3+ ions is calculated by a concentration quenching method and the energy‐transfer mechanism for Eu 2+ →Tb 3+ is studied by utilizing the Inokuti–Hirayama model. In addition, the quantum efficiencies of the prepared samples are measured. The results indicate that KBaSc 2 (PO 4 ) 3 :Eu 2+ ,Tb 3+ and KBaSc 2 (PO 4 ) 3 :Ce 3+ ,Tb 3+ phosphors might have potential applications in UV‐excited white‐light‐emitting diodes.