On the sol–gel fabrication and characterization of undoped and cerium-doped Sr4Al14O25

• Sr4Al14O25 samples were prepared using aqueous sol–gel synthesis.
• The boric acid as fluxing agent for the synthesis should be used.
• Doping with cerium could be successfully performed.
• Photoluminescence properties of doped samples were studied.

An aqueous sol–gel synthesis route has been used for the preparation of undoped and cerium-doped strontium aluminate phase Sr4Al14O25. This study revealed required conditions for obtaining single phase compound, which are 1300 °C annealing temperature and addition of 2.5% of boric acid as a fluxing agent. The fact that boric acid is involved in the process of formation of strontium aluminate was confirmed by thermogravimetric measurements. A series of cerium-doped samples has been prepared and their excitation and emission spectra has been measured, which showed peaks at 330 nm and 385 nm, respectively.