Synthesis and luminescence characterization of Pr3+ doped Sr1.5Ca0.5SiO4 phosphor

Luminescence properties of Pr3+ activated Sr1.5Ca0.5SiO4 phosphors synthesized by solid state reaction method are reported in this work. Blue, orange red and red emissions were observed in the Pr3+ doped sample under 444 nm excitation and these emissions are assigned as P-3(0) -> H-3(4), P-3(0) -> H-3(6) and P-3(0) -> E-3(4) transitions. The emission intensity shows a maximum corresponding to the 0.5 wt% Pr3+ ion. The decay analysis was done for 0.05 and 0.5 wt% Pr3+ doped samples for the transition P-3(0) -> H-3(6). The life times of 0.05 and 0.5 wt% Pr3+ doped samples were calculated by fitting to exponential and non-exponential curve respectively, and are found to be 156 and 105 mu s respectively. The non-exponential behaviour arises due to the statistical distribution of the distances between the ground state Pr3+ ions and excited state Pr3+ ions, which cause the inhomogeneous energy transfer rate. The XRD spectrum confirmed the triclinic phase of the prepared phosphors. The compositions of the samples were determined by the energy dispersive X-ray spectra. From the SEM images it is observed that the particles are agglomerated and are irregularly shaped. IR absorption bands were assigned to different vibrational modes. The well resolved peaks shown in the absorption spectra are identical to the excitation spectra of the phosphor samples. Pr3+ activated Sr1.5Ca0.5SiO4 phosphors can be efficiently excited with 444 nm irradiation and emit multicolour visible emissions. From the CIE diagram it can be seen that the prepared phosphor samples give yellowish-green emission. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.