Novel UV and X-ray irradiated white-emitting persistent luminescence and traps distribution of Ca5Ga6O14: Pr3+ phosphors

Abstract In the current study, we synthesized a new white-emitting long persistent luminescence (LPL) phosphor Ca5Ga6O14: Pr3+ by the solid-state reaction, and investigated its LPL properties for the first time. Ca5Ga6O14: Pr3+ is a multi-stimulus phosphor that can be activated by X-ray and 254 nm ultraviolet (UV) lamp. Under the excitation of 254 nm UV lamp and X-ray, Ca5Ga6O14: Pr3+ provides white light consisting of green-bluish and red ingredients. The phenomenon stems from 3P0 and 1D2 multiplets electrons transition in 4f level of Pr3+. Following the removal of UV excitation, a fantastic white luminescent LPL can be detected in Ca5Ga6O14: Pr3+ for 10.3 h. Moreover, the distribution of traps in Ca5Ga6O14: Pr3+ was also discussed by thermoluminescence (TL) spectra, which contained large shallow and deep traps, that were critical for exceptional LPL properties for UV and X-ray irradiation, respectively. Our results indicated that Ca5Ga6O14: Pr3+ could be used as multi-stimulus LPL phosphors in different fields.