Temperature and wavelength dependent trap filling in M2Si5N8:Eu (M=Ca, Sr, Ba) persistent phosphors

► Orange afterglow in M2Si5N8:Eu(Tm) studied with thermoluminescence spectroscopy. ► Strong influences of excitation wavelength and temperature on trap filling. ► Energy level scheme is presented. ► Relation between trap filling with visible light and thermal quenching behavior.