Photoluminescence and afterglow behavior of Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺ and Eu³⁺, Dy³⁺ 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.