Luminescence properties of long persistent phosphors BaZrSi3O9:R3+ (R = Eu, Sm, Dy, Tb and Pr) based on host sensitization

• The photoluminescence of R3+ ions (R = Eu, Sm, Dy, Tb and Pr) doped BaZrSi3O9 were studied.
• The long afterglow with different color from R3+ ions were observed for the first time.
• The energy transfer from the host to the activators was confirmed.
• The mechanism of long afterglow for R3+ ion doped BaZrSi3O9 was discussed in detail.

Undoped and R3+ ions (R = Eu, Sm, Dy, Tb and Pr) singly doped BaZrSi3O9 phosphors were synthesized by a traditional solid state reaction method. All samples were studied by X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence spectra, afterglow decay curves, long persistent luminescence (LPL) spectra and thermoluminescence (TL) glow curves. The different characteristic emissions and LPL from these R3+ ions were obtained by the same UV excitation. These phenomena were derived from the energy transfer that originates from BaZrSi3O9 host. The nature of trapping centers was studied with TL glow curves. The incorporation of R3+ ions into host lattice produced some new traps. Accordingly, the mechanism of long afterglow in BaZrSi3O9:R3+ was also discussed.