Synthesis and characterization of Sr2CeO4 phosphor: Positive features of sol-gel technique

Nano crystalline powder of Sr₂CeO₄ has been synthesized by sol-gel technique. The luminescence properties of the material were compared with the one synthesized by conventional solid state reaction technique. The homogeneity and uniformity of the particle prepared by this method is much better than that prepared by the solid state reaction technique. This blue emitting phosphor was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy images and luminescent measurements. The emission spectrum of the material exhibits a broad band around ∼480 nm. The photoluminescence spectra of the Sr₂CeO₄ reveals that the strong blue emission is assigned to the Ce⁴⁺-O²⁻ charge transfer transition (CTT) of Sr₂CeO₄ and not related to lattice defect. The Commission International de l’Eclairage coordinates are x=0.16 and y=0.25.