SrS:Ce3+ thin films for electroluminescence device applications deposited by electron-beam evaporation deposition method

• SrS thin films at varied concentration of Ce3+ are being reported for the 1st time.
• Results based on XRD, AFM and optical studies are inter-explanatory.
• The PL behavior of films is well supported by afterglow decay characteristics.

The strontium sulfide (SrS) thin films doped with different concentrations (0.1, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mol%) of cerium (Ce3+) ions are synthesized by electron-beam evaporation deposition (EBED) method. The SrS:Ce3+ thin films have been deposited on glass substrates. It is interestingly witnessed that both the structural and optical properties of as-deposited thin films are strongly influenced by the concentration of Ce3+ ions. The utmost photoluminescence (PL) emission intensity in visible region at 476 and 529 nm is observed for SrS:Ce3+ (0.5 mol%) thin film when excited suitably by an ultraviolet (UV–369 nm) light which is well supported by afterglow behavior of SrS:Ce3+ thin film for the same composition.