Enhancement of the red emission in CaTiO3:Pr3+ by addition of rare earth oxides

Enhancement of the D-1(2)-> H-3(4) red emission of CaTiO3:Pr3+ with addition of rare earth oxides Ln(2)O(3) (Ln = Lu, La, Gd) is reported. Ca2+ and Ti4+ in CaTiO3 can be substituted by Ln(3+) ions as donors and acceptors, respectively. Ca2+ and Ti4+ vacancies, as quenching centers in the host, are effectively suppressed by the self-compensation, leading to the increase of lifetimes and then the emission efficiency of D-1(2). The red fluorescence intensity for CaTiO3:Pr3+ phosphor co-doped with 5 mol% Lu2O3 is nearly 3 times greater than that of the Lu-free samples. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.