Identification of dual luminescence centers from a single site in a novel blue-pumped Ca3Sc2Ge3O12:Ce3+ phosphor

Abstract

The luminescence spectra of some trivalent rare-earth ions in a garnet host present interesting multisite structures; however, their mechanism is still not fully understood. In this study, for the first time, we directly observed two luminescence centers of Ce³⁺ at a single site in a novel garnet Ca₃Sc₂Ge₃O₁₂ phosphor. The spectral characteristics of the two luminescence centers were clearly identified using site-selective and time-resolved spectroscopy. Luminescence excitation was observed at 425 nm and 450 nm, corresponding to emissions at 490 (Ce(I)) nm and 530 (Ce(II)) nm. The decay curves confirmed the existence of energy transfer from Ce(I) to Ce(II). The potential mechanisms of the multisite luminescence are also discussed. This study gives a new insight into the concentration-dependent red-shift and inhomogeneous broadening of the Ce³⁺ emission band in the garnet phosphor. The title phosphor showed excellent thermal stability, with more than 90% of the initial intensity at the functioning temperature (323 K). Finally, a white LED lamp was fabricated, which exhibited an excellent color rendering index (82.3) and a proper correlated color temperature (3582 K). These results demonstrate that Ca₃Sc₂Ge₃O₁₂:Ce³⁺ is highly promising to serve as a blue-pumped phosphor for white LEDs.