Photoluminescence properties of Ce3+-doped SrAl2O4 prepared using the solution combustion method

SrAl2O4:Ce3+ phosphors were synthesized using the solution combustion method at a temperature of 500 °C. The Ce3+ ion concentration was varied from 0.25 to 2 mol%. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) patterns exhibited the same main peaks for the lower dopant concentrations of Ce3+, and the average crystallite size was between 40 nm and 43 nm. The SrAl2O4:Ce3+ included a monoclinic phase. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed agglomerated particles as well as plate-like particles. Photoluminescence results demonstrated that the intensity decreased for Ce3+ concentrations up to 1 mol% and then increased again due to the formation of a second phase Sr3Al2O6. The emission peaks for the different concentrations of Ce3+ consists of two peaks situated at 356 nm and 380 nm corresponding to the 2F7/2 and 2F5/2 transitions.