Luminescence in Sr4Al14O25:Ce3+ aluminate phosphor

Abstract

Cerium-doped Sr4Al14O25 phosphor is prepared using a single-step combustion synthesis and its X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photoluminescence (PL) and thermoluminescence (TL) properties are characterized. XRD reveals the formation of the desired phase in the prepared sample. SEM micrographs of the prepared Sr4Al14O25 phosphor show that the particle size is 10 μm. The prepared Sr4Al14O25, along with Sr4Al14O25:Cex (x = 0.5-5 mol%) shows a PL emission peak at 314 nm under UV excitation of 262 nm wavelength due to 5d → 4f transition. The phosphor is suitable for higher concentrations of Ce ions. The TL glow peak reveals three clearly visible distinct peaks at temperatures around 130, 231 and 336°C. The three peaks are separated by deconvolution and kinetic parameters calculated using Chen's peak shape method. The calculation shows that the reaction follows second-order kinetics with activation energy (E) values of 0.52, 0.81 and 1.12 eV, and frequency factor (s) values of 5.58 × 105, 4.53 × 107 and 4.57 × 108 s-1 for the three individual peaks.