Effects of Er3+ doping on the long-persistent luminescence properties of Ba4(Si3O8)2:Eu2+ phosphor

A greenish-blue long-persistent luminescence (LPL) material of Ba4(Si3O8)2:Eu2+,Er3+ was synthesized by traditional solid state reaction method. Compared to Eu2+ single-doped Ba4(Si3O8)2 phosphor, the Eu2+/Er3+ co-doped sample shows brighter and longer afterglow. Photoluminescence (PL) and long-persistent luminescence (LPL) results indicated that PL and LPL are from the same luminescent centers which are ascribed to the 4f65d1 → 4f7 transition of the Eu2+. The incorporation of Er3+ ions largely extends the thermoluminescence characteristics and evidently enhances the LPL behavior of the phosphor. Since the TL glow curve in the Eu2+/Er3+ co-doped sample phosphor is different from that of Er3+ single-doped sample, it is considered that Er3+ plays an important role in LPL behavior.