Study of the cation distributions in Eu doped Sr2Y8(SiO4)6O2 by X-ray diffraction and photoluminescent spectra

The crystal structure and photoluminescent properties of europium doped silicate Sr₂Y₈(SiO₄)₆O₂:Eu³⁺ are reported. The Sr₂Y_8−xEu_x(SiO₄)₆O₂ compounds have typical apatite crystal structures with the P6₃/m space group. The distributions of Eu³⁺ between the two crystallographic sites 4f and 6h in the apatite structure are investigated by the powder X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement. Results show that Eu³⁺ ions only occupy the 4f sites when the Eu doping concentration is low (x=0-0.5 in Sr₂Y_8−xEu_x(SiO₄)₆O₂). However, in higher concentrations, Eu³⁺ ions begin to enter the 6h sites as well. The distributions of the Eu³⁺ are also reflected in photoluminescent spectra. The CIE coordinates for Sr₂Y₆Eu₂(SiO₄)₆O₂ are (0.63, 0.37), which is close to the pure red color.