Massive production of A2SiO4:Eu3+ and A2SiO4:Eu2+ (A = Ca, Sr, Ba) microspheres and luminescent properties

•A2SiO4:Eu3+ (Eu2+) microspheres with dense structure were synthesized.•Eu3+ (Eu2+) ions occupy different sites in A2SiO4:Eu3+ (Eu2+) samples.•The sites of Eu3+ (Eu2+) have obvious influence on the luminescence.

A2SiO4:Eu3+ and A2SiO4:Eu2+ (A = Ca, Sr, Ba) microspheres with dense structure were synthesized by the modified spray-drying process. The obtained samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, and spectrophotometer. The XRD results reveal that all samples are isostructure. The SEM results show that the obtained samples are microspheres with size in the range of 0.6–2.2 μm. Dextrin plays an important role in the formation of spherical morphology. The excitation and emission spectra of the samples indicate that Eu3+ (or Eu2+) ions doped into different alkaline earth silicates will give different emission bands in different color regions and with different emission intensities. A2SiO4:Eu3+ samples show characteristic emission bands originating from 5D0 → 7Fj transitions of Eu3+ ions. A2SiO4:Eu2+ samples show different emission bands. The two emission bands for Sr2SiO4:Eu2+ relate to the two Eu2+ activator sites locating at two Sr2+ sites in Sr2SiO4 host. The difference of luminescent properties relates to the different sites of Eu3+ (or Eu2+) ions in the A2SiO4 hosts.

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