Blue-emitting phosphor of YInGe2O7 doped with Tm3+ ions

YInGe2O7/xTm samples, with x=0-7 mol %, exhibit an emission in the blue region with a dominant wavelength of D-1(2)-> F-3(4) at 453 nm. The energy is absorbed by the Tm3+ ion to the D-1(2) emitting level, then transferred to a lower state via radiative transition. A single exponential decay behavior was observed for diluted samples, and a nonexponential decay behavior occurred when YInGe2O7 was doped with a higher Tm3+ ion concentration. The saturation of emission intensity excited by intra-4f transitions occurred at a concentration of x=0.04, indicating that the concentration quenching is active when x > 0.04. (c) 2007 The Electrochemical Society.