Ce3+ sensitized Tb3+ delayed emission and short persistent luminescence in NaBa3Y3Si6O20 silicate phosphors for time-resolved anticounterfeiting

A Ce 3+ -centered multimodal luminescent system is established in NaBa 3 Y 3- x - y Si 6 O 20 : x Ce 3+ , y Tb 3+ (NBYSO: x Ce 3+ , y Tb 3+ ) silicate phosphors, delivering a compelling combination of high efficiency, dynamic optical coding, and self-referenced optical temperature sensing in a single material. The phosphor achieves intense blue-violet emission (394 nm) with internal and external quantum efficiencies of 71% and 47%, respectively. Thermoluminescence analysis confirms the involvement of thermally active trapping states in the short-persistent luminescence and reveals a concentration-dependent modulation of the trap characteristics upon Tb 3+ incorporation. Together with Ce 3+ →Tb 3+ energy transfer, these trap-assisted carrier dynamics regulate the delayed-emission behavior of the Ce 3+ /Tb 3+ co-doped system. This synergy enables time-resolved dynamic anti-counterfeiting and self-erasing information encryption within a single patterned device, eliminating the need for complex architectures. Furthermore, the distinctive thermal responses of Ce 3+ and Tb 3+ emissions establish a self-referenced ratiometric thermometry with interference-free temperature readout. Demonstrating its practical potential, a near-UV-excited white light-emitting diode (WLED) prototype incorporating this phosphor achieves an outstanding color rendering index of 93.6 (CCT = 4478 K). Collectively, NBYSO: x Ce 3+ , y Tb 3+ emerges as a versatile multimodal phosphor with transformative potential for dynamic anti-counterfeiting, ratiometric thermometry, and high-quality solid-state lighting.