Synthesis and photoluminescence of Ca3Si3O8F2: Ce4+, Eu3+, Tb3+ phosphor

$Ce^{4+}$, $Eu^{3+}$, $Tb^{3+}$ co-doped $Ca_3Si_3O_8F_2$ phosphor was synthesized via solid state reaction method using $CaF_2$, $CaCO_3$ and $SiO_2$ as raw materials for the host and $Eu_2O_3$, $CeO_2$, and $Tb_4O_7$ as activators. The luminescent properties of the phosphor was analysed by spectrofluorophotometer at room temperature. The effect of excitation wavelengths on the luminescent properties of the phosphor i.e. under near-ultraviolet (nUV) and visible excitations was investigated. The emission peaks of $Ce^{4+}$, $Eu^{3+}$, $Tb^{3+}$ co-doped $Ca_3Si_3O_8F_2$ phosphor lays at 480(blue band), 550(green band) and 611nm (red band) under 380nm excitation wavelength, attributed to the $Ce^{4+}$ ion, $Tb^{3+}$ ion and $Eu^{3+}$ ions respectively. The results reveal that the phosphor emits white light upon nUV (380nm) / visible (465nm) illumination, and a red light upon 395nm / 535nm illumination. RE ions doped $Ca_3Si_3O_8F_2$ is a promising white light phosphor for LEDs. The emission colours can be seen using Commission international de l'eclairage (CIE) co-ordinates. A single host phosphor emitting different colours under different excitations indicates that it is a potential phosphor having applications in many fields.