Eu red long afterglow in Y2O2S:Ti, Eu phosphor through afterglow energy transfer

Eu,Ti co-doped Y₂O₂S:0.03Ti,0.03Eu phosphors and single Eu or Ti doped Y₂O₂S phosphors were prepared and their luminescent properties were investigated in detail by photoluminescence (PL) spectra, long afterglow spectra and thermoluminescence spectra measurements. The results showed that Y₂O₂S:Ti,Eu phosphors possess orange-red afterglow color with afterglow time above 5 h. The reddish afterglow color, which corresponds to a set of linear Eu³⁺ emissions at low-energy range (540-630 nm), was demonstrated to come from the energy transfer process from yellow Ti afterglow emissions, the proposed energy transfer mechanism may well explain the Eu³⁺ afterglow emission.     

Effects of non-stoichiometry and substitution on photoluminescence and afterglow luminescence of Sr4Al14O25:Eu, Dy phosphor

The effects of nonstoichiometry and cationic substitution on photoluminescence and afterglow characteristics of strontium aluminate phosphor (Sr₄Al₁₄O₂₅:Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺) were investigated. Photoluminescence intensity of both the strontium-deficit and -rich phosphors was enhanced, but no definite correlation was observed between the afterglow intensity and non-stoichiometry. The photoluminescence emission maxima were either blue or green shifted in case of non-stoichiometric phosphors, whereas the afterglow emission maxima were not affected by the non-stoichiometry. Substitution of strontium by calcium resulted in white afterglow emission at higher calcium concentration. The emission centers in case of photoluminescence and afterglow emission appear to be different. Addition of silver significantly enhanced the afterglow intensity due to increased trap density.     

Photoluminescence and afterglow behavior of Eu, Dy and Eu, Dy in Sr3Al2O6 matrix

This paper reports the photoluminescence and afterglow behavior of Eu²⁺ and Eu³⁺ in Sr₃Al₂O₆ matrix co-doped with Dy³⁺. The samples containing Eu²⁺ and Eu³⁺ were prepared via solid-state reaction. X-ray diffraction (XRD), photo luminescent spectroscope (PLS) and thermal luminescent spectroscope (TLS) were employed to characterize the phosphors. The comparison between the emission spectra revealed that Sr₃Al₂O₆ phosphors doped with Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺ and Eu³⁺, Dy³⁺ showed different photoluminescence. The phosphor doped with Eu³⁺, Dy³⁺ showed an intrinsic f-f transition generated from Eu³⁺, with two significant emissions at 591 and 610 nm. However, the phosphor doped with Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺ revealed a broad d-f emission centering around 512 nm. After the UV source was turned off, Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺ activated Sr₃Al₂O₆ phosphor showed excellent afterglow while Eu³⁺, Dy³⁺ activated phosphor almost showed no afterglow. Thermal simulated luminescence study indicated that the persistent afterglow of Sr₃Al₂O₆: Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺ phosphor was generated by suitable electron traps formed by the co-doped rare-earth ions (Dy³⁺) within the host.     

Photoluminescence and thermoluminescence of Ce and Eu in Ca2Al2SiO7 matrix

The Ca₂Al₂SiO₇ samples doped with Ce³⁺ and Eu²⁺ are synthesized via a high temperature solid-state reaction. Ca₂Al₂SiO₇: Ce³⁺ emits a strong UV-violet emission while Ca₂Al₂SiO₇: Eu²⁺ emits a blue-green emission. The Stokes shift of the latter is greater due to a stronger crystal repulsion from ligands to Eu²⁺ ions. Ca₂Al₂SiO₇: Ce³⁺ exhibits a stronger initial intensity and longer duration of afterglow due to the higher liberated probability of the trapped carriers. The thermoluminescence curves reveal that at least three traps exist in the phosphors. Ca²⁺ vacancies may enhance the electron trapping and then lead to a stronger afterglow. A possible explanation will be provided.     

Photoluminescence of Eu single doped and Eu/Dy codoped Sr2Al2SiO7 phosphors with long persistence

This paper reports the preparation of long persistent Sr₂Al₂SiO₇:Eu²⁺ and Sr₂Al₂SiO₇:Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺ phosphors and the comparison of their photoluminescent properties. The silicate phosphors prepared by solid-state reaction routine showed a broad blue emission peaking at 484 nm when activated by UV illumination. Such a bluish-green emission can be attributed to the intrinsic 4f-5d transitions of Eu²⁺. After the UV source was switched off, long persistent phosphorescence could be observed by naked eyes for both samples in darkness. Afterglow measurements revealed that Eu/Dy codoped phosphor possesses better afterglow properties than the Eu single doped one, since the maximum lifetime (τ_max=99 s) of the photons calculated from the decay profile is much larger than that of the Eu single doped phosphor (τ_max=82 s). TSL results suggested that the difference in afterglow properties was caused by the difference in the electron traps within the crystal lattice. For Eu/Dy codoped phosphor, the doping of Dy ions produced electron traps with trap depth of 0.52 eV, which is suitable and therefore leads to good persistence. However, in the case of Eu single doped phosphor, the trap depth is 0.88 eV, which is really too deep an energy barrier to overcome, and therefore a poor persistence was observed in the experiment.     

Blue-emitting long-lasting phosphor, Sr3Al10SiO20:Eu,Ho

A novel blue-emitting long-lasting phosphor Sr₃Al₁₀SiO₂₀:Eu²⁺,Ho³⁺ is prepared by the conventional high-temperature solid-state technique and their luminescent properties are investigated. XRD, photoluminescence (PL) and thermoluminescence (TL) are used to characterize the synthesized phosphors. These phosphors are well crystallized by calcinations at 1500-1600 °C for 3 h. The phosphor emits blue light and shows long-lasting phosphorescence after it is excited with 254/365 nm ultraviolet light. TL curves reveal the introduction of Ho³⁺ ions into the Sr₃Al₁₀SiO₂₀:Eu²⁺ host produces a highly dense trap level at appropriate depth, which is the origin of the long-lasting phosphorescence in this kind of material. The long-lasting phosphorescence lasts for nearly 6 h in the light perception of the dark-adapted human eye (0.32 mcd/m²). All the results indicate that this phosphor has promising potential practical applications.     

Yellow persistent luminescence of Sr2SiO4:Eu2+,Dy3+

This paper reports the photoluminescence and afterglow of Sr₂SiO₄ doped with Eu²⁺ and Dy³⁺. Factors governing the formation of the monoclinic or orthorhombic phase of this ortho-silicate are described and the impact of the crystallographic modification on the luminescence and afterglow under UV and VUV excitation are discussed and insight in factors limiting the efficiency of this yellow afterglow material is given.     

Tunable luminescent properties by adjusting the Sr/Ba ratio in Sr1.97−xBaxMgSi2O7:Eu0.01, Dy0.02 phosphors

The long afterglow phosphors Sr_1.97−xBa_xMgSi₂O₇:Eu²⁺_0.01, Dy³⁺_0.02 (x=0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, 1.6 and 1.97) were synthesized via high temperature solid-state reaction. The phase identification reveals that the crystal plane spacing becomes greater with the decrease in the Sr/Ba ratio. Phase transition occurs when x=1.97. A nonlinear relationship between the emission peak and the crystal plane spacing is obtained with the decrease of the Sr/Ba ratio. This ascribes to the splitting of the 5d level of the Eu²⁺ and the change of the crystal field strength. The duration of the afterglow becomes shorter with the decrease of the Sr/Ba ratio. It may ascribe to deeper trap depth, lower trap concentration and the embarrassment of the transfer of carriers.     

Green-emissive transparent BaSi2O5:Eu film phosphor on quartz glass created by a sputtering thermal diffusion process

Eu²⁺-doped BaSi₂O₅ film phosphors on quartz substrates are fabricated by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering thermal diffusion. The BaSi₂O₅: Eu²⁺ phosphor crystals have some preferred orientations that are lattice-spacing matched with the crystallized β- SiO₂ crystals, and they show pore and grain boundary-free morphology with a rod-like shape fused into the crystallized β- SiO₂ crystals. The BaSi₂O₅: Eu²⁺ film phosphor has a high transparency, with a transmittance of about 30% in visible light. The BaSi₂O₅: Eu²⁺ film phosphor shows 510 nm green emission from the f–d transition of the Eu²⁺ ions, and in particular the best sample shows a green photoluminescence brightness of about 5% of a BaSi₂O₅: Eu²⁺ powder phosphor screen. These excellences in optical properties can be explained by less optical scattering at pores or grain boundaries, and less reflection at the continuously index-changed interface.     

Luminescence properties of Tm co-doped Sr2Si5N8:Eu red phosphor

The Sr₂Si₅N₈:Eu²⁺ phosphors, both undoped and doped with Tm³⁺, were synthesized by high temperature solid-state method. The XRD pattern shows that only Sr₂Si₅N₈ phase is formed whatever Tm³⁺ was doped or not. The peak positions of both phosphors are centered at 612 nm which is assigned to the 4f⁶5d→4f⁷ transition of Eu²⁺. It implies that the crystal field, which affects the 5d electron states of Eu²⁺, is not changed dramatically after the phosphor is doped with Tm³⁺. The afterglow time is about 10 min after Tm³⁺ ion is introduced into the phosphor. The concentration of Tm³⁺ has little influence on the afterglow time of the phosphor. The depths of trap energy level of the two phosphors were calculated based on the TL spectra. The depths of Sr₂Si₅N₈:Eu²⁺ and Sr₂Si₅N₈:Eu²⁺, Tm³⁺ are 1.75 and 1.01 eV, respectively.     

Spherical Zn2SiO4:Eu@SiO2 phosphor particles in core-shell structure: Synthesis and characterization

Spherical SiO₂ particles have been coated with Zn₂SiO₄:Eu³⁺ phosphor layers by a Pechini sol-gel process. The microstructure and luminescent properties of the obtained Zn₂SiO₄:Eu³⁺@SiO₂ particles were well characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectra, and lifetime. The results demonstrate that the Zn₂SiO₄:Eu³⁺@SiO₂ particles, which have regular and uniform spherical morphology, emitted an intensive red light emission at 613 nm under excitation at 395 nm. Besides, the effects of the Eu³⁺ concentration, annealing temperature and charge compensators of Li⁺ ions on the PL emission intensities were investigated in detail.     

Influence of co-doping different rare earth ions on CaGa2S4: Eu, RE(RE=Ln) phosphors

Photoluminescent phosphors CaGa₂S₄: Eu²⁺, RE³⁺ (RE³⁺ including all rare earth ions except for Sc³⁺, Pm³⁺, Eu³⁺ and Lu³⁺) were prepared by sintering at high temperature in a reductive atmosphere, and their luminescent properties were studied intensively. The influences of co-doping rare earth ions on their luminescent properties were also investigated. No remarkable differences were found from excitation spectra of co-doped phosphors CaGa₂S₄: Eu²⁺, RE³⁺ in contrast with that of phosphor CaGa₂S₄: Eu²⁺, but there were a few differences in emission spectra of Ce³⁺, Pr³⁺ or Ho³⁺ co-doped phosphors. Phosphors CaGa₂S₄: Eu²⁺, RE³⁺ (RE=Ce, Pr, Gd, Tb, Ho and Y) had persistent afterglow, and very short afterglow was shown for Nd³⁺ or Er³⁺ co-doped phosphors, but no long afterglow appeared when auxiliary activator was La³⁺, Sm³⁺, Dy³⁺, Tm³⁺ or Yb³⁺. Among the phosphors with long-lasting phosphorescence, in our experiments, CaGa₂S₄: Eu²⁺, Ho³⁺ had the longest and the highest brightness long yellow afterglow. Thermo-luminescence of all co-doped phosphors was measured to find the answer of different influences from different rare earth auxiliary activators.     

Temperature-dependent emission spectra of M2SiO4:Eu (M=Ca, Sr, Ba) phosphors for green and greenish white LEDs

The temperature dependence of emission spectra of alkaline earth ortho-silicates M₂SiO₄ (M=Ca, Sr, Ba) doped with Eu²⁺ ions is investigated. Two emission bands of Sr₂SiO₄:Eu²⁺ show the normal redshift with broadening bandwidth and decreasing emission intensity as an increase in temperature. On the other hand, emission bands of Ca₂SiO₄:Eu²⁺ and Ba₂SiO₄:Eu²⁺ show the anomalous blueshift with increasing temperature. For Ca₂SiO₄:Eu²⁺ and Ba₂SiO₄:Eu²⁺, the temperature dependence of the emission color can be described in terms of back tunneling from the excited state of low-energy emission band to the excited state of high-energy emission band in the configuration coordinate diagram. Our phosphors have a promising potential as phosphors for green or greenish white-light-emitting diode pumped by ultraviolet chip.     

Effect of Sr substitution on photoluminescent properties of BaAl2O4:Eu, Dy

Phosphor material BaAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺ with varying compositions of Sr substitution were prepared by the solid-state synthesis method. The phosphor compositions were characterized for their phase and crystallinity by XRD, SEM and TEM. Photoluminescence (PL) properties were investigated measuring PL and decay time for varying Ba/Sr compositions. The PL results show the blue shift in the luminescence properties in Sr substituted BaAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺ compared to parent BaAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺. It is probably due to the influence of 5d electron states of Eu²⁺ in the crystal field because of atomic size variation causing crystal defects. Dy³⁺ ion doping in the phosphor generates deep traps, which results in long afterglow phosphorescence.     

Sol-gel growth of Gd2MoO6:Eu nanocrystalline layers on SiO2 spheres (SiO2@Gd2MoO6:Eu) and their luminescent properties

SiO₂@Gd₂MoO₆:Eu³⁺ core-shell phosphors were prepared by the sol-gel process. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectra (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectra as well as kinetic decays were used to characterize the resulting SiO₂@Gd₂MoO₆:Eu³⁺ core-shell phosphors. The XRD results demonstrate that the Gd₂MoO₆:Eu³⁺ layers on the SiO₂ spheres begin to crystallize after annealing at 600 °C and the crystallinity increases with raising the annealing temperature. The obtained core-shell phosphors have a near perfect spherical shape with narrow size distribution (average size ca. 600 nm), are not agglomerated, and have a smooth surface. The thickness of the Gd₂MoO₆:Eu³⁺ shells on the SiO₂ cores could be easily tailored by varying the number of deposition cycles (50 nm for four deposition cycles). The Eu³⁺ shows a strong PL luminescence (dominated by ⁵D₀-⁷F₂ red emission at 613 nm) under the excitation of 307 nm UV light. The PL intensity of Eu³⁺ increases with increasing the annealing temperature and the number of coating cycles.     

Long lasting phosphorescence of Eu in reduced SrO-B2O3 glasses

The blue long-lasting phosphorescence (LLP) phenomenon was observed for Eu²⁺-doped SrO-B₂O₃ glasses prepared in the reducing atmosphere. The phosphorescence peaks at about 450 nm due to the 4f5d→4f transition of Eu²⁺. With the doping of different amounts of Eu²⁺, the concentration-quenching phenomenon was observed for both the LLP and photoluminescence of the glasses, and the critical concentration for the two cases was same, i.e., 0.02 mol% Eu²⁺. And by the investigation of the TL curves, the content of Eu²⁺ had an effect on the trap depth of the samples. At last the possible mechanism of the LLP of the samples was suggested.     

Improved photoluminescence and afterglow in CaTiO3:Pr with addition of nanosized SiO2

Enhancement of the ¹D₂-³H₄ red emission in CaTiO₃:Pr³⁺ with addition of nanosized SiO₂ fabricated by a solid state reaction method is reported. The dynamical processes for the improvement of red emission were systematically investigated using photoluminescence (PL) and PL excitation spectra, and diffused reflectance spectra as well as time decay patterns of PL and persistent afterglow. Higher efficiency of energy transfer from CaTiO₃ host to the activator Pr³⁺ due to the improvement of crystallinity by SiO₂ addition was discussed in comparison with that of the SiO₂ free sample. The enhancement of persistent afterglow after the cessation of excitation in SiO₂ added CaTiO₃:Pr³⁺ was also analyzed by theoretically fitted results.     

Synthesis, structure and optical properties of Eu/TiO2 nanocrystals at room temperature

The nanocrystal samples of titanium dioxide doped with europium ion (Eu³⁺/TiO₂ nanocrystal) are synthesized by the sol-gel method with hydrothermal treatment. The Eu³⁺ contents (molar ratio) in the samples are 0, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3% and 4%. The X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis spectroscopy data and scanning electron microscope image show that crystallite size is reduced by the doping of Eu³⁺ into TiO₂. Comparing the Raman spectra of TiO₂ with Eu³⁺/TiO₂ (molar ratio Eu³⁺/TiO₂=1%, 2% and 4%) nanocrystals at different annealing temperatures indicates that the anatase-to-rutile phase transformation temperatures of Eu³⁺/TiO₂ nanocrystals are higher than that of TiO₂. This is due to the formation of Eu-O-Ti bonds on the surface of the TiO₂ crystallite, as characterized by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The photoluminescence spectra of TiO₂ in Eu³⁺/TiO₂ nanocrystals are interpreted by the surface self-trapped and defect-trapped exciton relaxation. The photoluminescence of Eu³⁺ in Eu³⁺/TiO₂ nanocrystals has the strongest emission intensity at 2% of Eu³⁺ concentration.     

Phosphorescent and thermoluminescent properties of SrAl2O4:Eu,Dy phosphors prepared by solid state reaction method

Long persistent SrAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺ phosphors co-doped with Dy³⁺ were prepared by the solid state reaction method. The main diffraction peaks of the monoclinic structure of SrAl₂O₄ were observed in all the samples. The broad band emission spectra at 497 nm for SrAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺ were observed and the emission is attributed to the 4f⁶5d¹ to 4f⁷ transition of Eu²⁺ ions. The samples annealed at 1100–1200 °C showed similar broad TL glow curves centered at 120 °C. The similar TL glow curves suggest that the traps responsible for them are similar. The long afterglow displayed by the phosphors annealed at different temperatures, may be attributed to the Dy³⁺ ions acting as the hole trap levels, which play an important role in prolonging the duration of luminescence.     

Photoluminescence investigations of Zn2SiO4 co-doped with Eu and Tb ions

Zinc silicate phosphors co-doped with Eu³⁺ ions and also with both Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ ions were prepared by high temperature solid state reaction in air or reducing atmosphere. The luminescence characteristics of the prepared phosphors were investigated. While in the samples prepared in air, Eu³⁺ emission was found to be dominant over Tb³⁺ emission, in the samples prepared in reducing atmosphere, intense Eu²⁺ emission at 448 nm was found to be predominant over narrow Tb³⁺ emission. Luminescence studies showed that Eu³⁺ ions occupy asymmetric sites in Zn₂SiO₄ lattice. The intense f-f absorption peak of Eu³⁺ at 395 nm observed in these phosphors suggests their potential as red emitting phosphors for near ultra-violet light emitting diodes.