Synthesis and photoluminescence of CeO2:Eu3+ phosphor powders

The crystalline structure and photoluminescence (PL) properties of europium-doped cerium dioxide synthesized by the solid-state reaction method were analyzed. CeO2:Eu3+ phosphor powders exhibit the pure cubic fluorite phase up to 10 mol% doping concentration of Eu3+. With indirect excitation of CeO2 host at 373 nm, the PL intensity quickly increases with increasing Eu3+ concentration, up to about 1 mol%, and then decreases indicating the concentration quenching. While with direct excitation (467 nm), much more stronger PL emissions, especially the electric dipole emission 5D0-7F2 at 612 nm, are observed and no concentration quenching occurs up to 10 mol% doping concentration of Eu3+. The nature of this behavior and the cause of the concentration quenching were discussed.