Integrated experimental and theoretical study on the phase transition and photoluminescent properties of ZrO2:xTb3+ (x=1, 2, 4 and 8 mol %)

•Synthesis and characterization of the phase transition (cubic vs tetragonal) and the photoluminescence emissions of ZrO2:xTb3+.•First-principle calculations at the density functional theory level were performed to complement and rationalize the experimental results.•An enhanced green emission is observed as Tb3+ is introduced to the ZrO2 lattice due to the more intense 5D4 → 7F5 transition around 550 nm.•The quenching effect was evaluated and it was concluded that the optimum concentration for maximum PL intensity was 2 mol% Tb3+;•The present findings indicate that the ZrO2:xTb3+ sample is a promising new green phosphor material which is applicable to solid state lighting devices.