Luminescence of Ce3+ at two different sites in α-Sr2P2O7 under vacuum ultraviolet-UV and x-ray excitation

A series of Ce3+ doped alpha-Sr2-2xCexNaxP2O7 phosphor compounds has been prepared using a high-temperature solid-state reaction technique. The luminescence properties under vacuum ultraviolet-UV and x-ray excitation were studied. Luminescence spectra reveal three UV-emitting peaks at about 310, 330, and 350 nm from which we conclude that Ce3+ occupies two distinct sites in alpha-Sr2P2O7. The influences of the doping concentration, the temperature, and the excitation wavelength on the luminescence of Ce3+ at the Ce(I) and Ce(II) sites together with the decay characteristics are discussed. The light yield under x-ray excitation is found to be around 10 000 photons/MeV. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. doi:10.1063/1.3500333]