Uncommon Emissions from Higher Excited State 5 D J of Eu 3+ in Rare-Earth Sr 2 CeO 4 Host

Undoped and Eu3+-doped Sr2CeO4 luminescent materials were prepared by sol-gel method. The structure and uncommon photoluminescence of Sr2CeO4∶Eu3+ phosphors were investigated in detail by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectrum, and photoluminescence spectrum, respectively. The XRD results demonstrate that the as-prepared Sr2CeO4 phosphor is single phase and well crystallized. For Sr2CeO4∶Eu3+ phosphor, its excitation spectrum consists of a broad intense band from host and Eu3+-O2-charge transfer and a number of small peaks from Eu3+ ion. The broad emission band originated from Sr2CeO4 host and Eu3+ emission lines in the blue, green, and red regions coexist. Not only the characteristic transition lines from the lowest excited 5D0 level of Eu3+ but also those from higher energy levels 5DJ (J=1, 2) of Eu3+ ions are observed. These unusual luminescence properties result from the low vibration energy of Sr2CeO4 host-lattice and different energy transfer process from host to activator.