Near infrared emission of Eu2+ ions in Ca3Sc2Si3O12

The luminescent properties of Eu2+ ions in Ca3Sc2Si3O12 have been studied for the first time. The Eu2+-doped Ca3Sc2Si3O12 exhibit a broadband emission in the 720-1100 nm region with a maximum at about 840 nm, which is due to the 4f(6)5d -> 4f(7) transition of Eu2+ ions. This interpretation is supported by the appearance of the fine structure in the emission spectrum of Eu2+-doped Ca3Sc2Si3O12 at 77 K. Probably, the near infrared emission of Eu2+ ions in Ca3Sc2Si3O12 is the most long-wavelength 4f(6)5d -> 4f(7) emission of these ions within more than three hundreds of Eu2+-doped inorganic compounds studied to date. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.