The energy transfer mechanism in Ce,Tb co-doped LaF₃ nanoparticles

LaF₃ pure host, LaF₃:Ce, LaF₃:Tb as well as LaF₃:Ce,Tb phosphors were synthesized by the hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction measurements were in good agreement with the standard data of LaF₃ from JCPDS card No. 32-0483 and indicated that the material was nanocrystalline with an average particle size of about 36 nm. Photoluminescence spectra of co-doped samples revealed that the Ce³⁺ emission was quenched while Tb³⁺ emission was enhanced, implying that energy was transferred from Ce³⁺ (the donor) to Tb³⁺ (the acceptor) in this system. The luminescence intensities and lifetimes of the donor for different concentrations of the acceptor were fitted to theoretical models in order to investigate the energy transfer mechanism. The quadrupole-quadrupole and exchange interaction mechanisms gave the best fit between the experimental data and the theoretical curves. The effective average Bohr radius from the fit to the exchange model is 0.095 nm. Since this is close to the ionic radii of the Ce³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions, it suggests that the exchange interaction mechanism contributes to the energy transfer.