Persistent luminescence properties of SrBXAl2−XO4:Eu,Dy laser-sintered ceramics

This paper describes the use of a laser sintering technique to produce persistent luminescence SrAl2O4:Eu2+Dy3+ ceramics, doped with boron that exhibit enhanced translucency in the visible/near infrared spectral range. In this technique, a CO2 laser is used as the main heat source for sintering with no atmospheric control. The ceramics, sintered at a power density of 3.1 W/mm2, yielded a single monoclinic SrAl2O4 phase, a homogeneous grain size distribution, and transmittance of up to 50% over 400 nm-800 nm. Even when sintered in air, the ceramics exhibited the characteristic green emission from Eu2+ ions, which corresponds to the 5d → 4f transition at 514 nm. The method of inserting the boron into the matrix is the key to improving the transparency of ceramics.