Multicolored luminescence in double perovskite Gd2ZnTiO6 phosphors with Tb3+/Eu3+ codoping and energy transfer

Multicolor phosphors are crucial components in various applications such as screen displays, lighting fixtures, and color imaging technologies. Despite their widespread use, they still encounter some obstacles in multicolored luminescence. Here, we synthesized a series of Gd₂ZnTiO₆ phosphors doped with Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ using a high-temperature solid-state reaction method. By employing Reisfeld's approximation theory and Dexter's multipolar interaction theory, we analyzed the energy transfer mechanism from Tb³⁺ to Eu³⁺. Our findings indicate that the Tb³⁺ to Eu³⁺ energy transfer is facilitated by quadrupole-quadrupole interactions. Additionally, we assessed the thermal stability of Gd₂ZnTiO₆:Tb³⁺, Eu³⁺ using temperature-variable emission spectroscopy across a temperature range of 303–463 K. The Gd₂ZnTiO₆ phosphors exhibited polychromatic luminescence ranging from green (0.3632, 0.61033) to red (0.6521, 0.3481) under 381 nm excitation by adjusting the content of Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺. Consequently, the Gd₂ZnTiO₆:Tb³⁺, Eu³⁺ phosphors exhibit excellent luminescence performance coupled with remarkable thermal stability, offering a valuable reference for the advancement of novel and robust luminescent materials.