Sr2CeO4: Electronic and structural properties

This work presents on the preparation and photoluminescent properties of Sr2CeO4 obtained from the heat treatment of Ce(III)-doped strontium oxalate (10, 25 and 33 mol%). The oxalate precursors were heat treated at 1100 °C for 12 h. The structure of this photoluminescent material was evaluated by the Rietveld method. The route used in this work to prepare the materials showed to be viable when compared to other synthesis reported in the literature. The Sr2CeO4 material showed a broad and intense band emission with a maximum around 485 nm. The quantitative phase analysis showed that the Sr2CeO4 photoluminescent phase is the majority one compared to the impurity phases of SrCeO3 and SrCO3. From all results it was possible to verify a complete elimination of the CeO2 phase for the sample obtained from the heat treatment of oxalate precursor containing 33 mol% of cerium(III). The material showed excellent properties for possible candidate as scintillator materials, and in the improvement of efficiency of solar cells when excited in the UV-vis region. The CIE chromaticity diagram it is also reported in this work.