Prominent blue emission through Tb3+ doped La2O3 nano-phosphors for white LEDs

In this article, we report the tunable luminescence emission of Tb3+ doped La2O3 nanophosphors synthesized by a facile and effective Polyol method. The structural and surface morphological studies have been carried out by employing X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The XRD studies elucidate the proper phase formation and the results emanate from Raman spectroscopy of the as synthesized nanophosphor affirms it. The optical properties of the as fabricated nanoparticles have been investigated by Raman and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The PL spectroscopy shows the occurrence of excitation peaks at 305, 350 and 375 nm for 543 nm emissions, correspond to transition D-5(4) -> F-7(5). Emission spectra with 305 nm excitation exhibits characteristic emission peaks of Tb(3+)ion at 472, 487, 543 and 580 nm. The intensity of emission increases with Tb3+ concentration and is most prominent for 7 at% Tb3+ ion. The characteristic emissions of Tb3+ ion owes to the transition in which intensities of blue and green emission are prominent. The dominant intensity has been found for 472 nm (for blue emission). Commission international d 'Eclairage (CIE) co-ordinates have found in the light blue to green region. The research work provides a new interesting insight dealing with tunable properties with Tb3+ doping in La2O3 nanophosphors, to be useful for display devices, solar cells, LEDs and optoelectronic devices.