Solution Combustion Synthesis and Energy Transfer in LaMgAl11O19:Tb3+/Sm3+ Tunable Phosphor

Tb ³⁺ /Sm ³⁺ single as well as co-doped LaMgAl₁₁O₁₉ (LMA) phosphors have been synthesized by a low-temperature solution combustion method. The X-ray diffraction pattern, photoluminescence properties and energy transfer (ET) processes between rare earth (RE) ions, were investigated in detail. The mechanism of energy transfer (ET) from Tb³⁺ to Sm³⁺ was seen as the dipole–dipole interaction. Efficient ET from Tb³⁺ to Sm³⁺ ions was observed, leading to color-tunable emissions of LMA:0.02Tb³⁺ , x Sm 3+ (x = 0.005 to 0.02 mol) phosphors. The efficiency of the ET gradually increased with increase in the Sm 3+ ion concentration, reaching a maximum of 78.28% at Tb³⁺ ion concentration 0.02mol. The critical distance (Rc) among sensitizer and activator by the concentration quenching method was estimated to be 27.96 Å. The LMA: Tb³⁺ , Sm³⁺ phosphors exhibited the emiss