Persistent luminescence in CaAl2Si2O8:Eu2+,R3+ (R=Pr, Nd, Dy, Ho and Er)

We investigated the persistent luminescence in europium-doped CaAl2Si2O8 upon codoping with auxiliary rare earth ions (Pr3+, Nd3+, Dy3+, Ho3+ and Er3+). The persistent phosphors were synthesized via a solid-state reaction method under flowing N2+H2. Under UV irradiation, broad-band emission persistent luminescence located at 430 nm was observed in all the phosphors at room temperature. The effects of auxiliary rare earth ions on CaAl2Si2O8:Eu2+ were discussed according to the decay curves and thermoluminescence spectra. Although all the selected codopants can improve the performance of CaAl2Si2O8:Eu2+, CaAl2Si2O8:Eu2+,Pr3+ shows the best performance.