Photoluminescence properties and energy transfer of and co-activated phosphor for white LEDs

Single-phased $CaZrO_3:Dy^{3+}$, $Tm^{3+}$ series have been successfully synthesized by solid-state reaction, and their luminescence properties were investigated. Under 355 nm excitation, $CaZrO_3:Dy^{3+}$ series showed characteristic emission of $Dy^{3+}$, which exhibited yellowish white color. By introducing $Tm^{3+}$ into the matrix, the emitted hue of the $Dy^{3+}$-doped sample could be easily tailored to white, and simultaneously, energy transfer from $Tm^{3+}$ to $Dy^{3+}$ was observed. The color coordinates of the optimum white-emitting sample were (0.321, 0.323), which were very close to the data of the National Television Standard Committee (0.33, 0.33). The co-activated phosphors presented good match to ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which revealed that they could be novel promising phosphors utilized in white LED application.