Luminescence properties of Eu2+ in M2MgSi2O7 (M=Ca, Sr, and Ba) phosphors

The photoluminescence properties of alkali-earth magnesium silicates (M₂MgSi₂O₇, M=Ca, Sr, and Ba) doped with Eu²⁺ were investigated. Solid solutions of Ba _x Sr_2−x Si₂O₇, Ca₂MgSi₂O₇, and Sr₂MgSi₂O₇ were prepared. Ba _x Sr_2−x Si₂O₇ retained a tetragonal crystal structure similar to the structure of the other compounds up to a stoichiometry of x=1.6, which enabled a systematic study of the common structure. Monoclinic Ba₂MgSi₂O₇ was prepared, and the luminescence properties were compared with those of other samples. The emission and excitation spectra of tetragonal M₂MgSi₂O₇ (M=Ca, Sr, and Ba) changed as a function of the covalency, site symmetry, and crystal field strength. The luminescence properties showed excellent agreement with theoretical predictions based on these factors. The Stokes shift differentiated the emission behaviors of the tetragonal and monoclinic structures.