Decay pathway and high-temperature luminescence of Eu3+ in Ca2Gd8Si6O26

The temperature-dependent luminescence of Eu:Ca2Gd8Si6O26 and its decay pathways are investigated in order to assess the utility of the material as a thermometric phosphor. Non-radiative decays are found to compete with radiative processes even at room temperature. A decay pathway involving decay through charge-transfer states is proposed based on the decay profiles of emissions from D-5(1) and D-5(0) levels and on the temperature sensitivity of the spectra as observed after excitation by several wavelengths. The implications of this on solid-state lighting are also discussed. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.