Luminescence study and dosimetry approach of Ce on an α-Sr2P2O7 phosphor synthesized by a high-temperature combustion method

We report synthesis of a cerium-activated strontium pyrophosphate (Sr2P2O7) phosphor using a high-temperature combustion method. Samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), photoluminescence (PL) and thermoluminescence (TL). The XRD pattern reveals that Sr2P2O7 has an -phase with crystallization in the orthorhombic space group of Pnam. The IR spectrum of -Sr2P2O7 displays characteristic bands at 746 and 1190cm(-1) corresponding to the absorption of (P2O7)(-4). PL emission spectra exhibit a broad emission band around 376nm in the near-UV region due to the allowed 5d-4f transition of cerium and suggest its applications in a UV light-emitting diode (LED) source. PL also reveals that the emission originates from 5d-4f transition of Ce3+ and intensity increases with doping concentration. TL measurements made after X-ray irradiation, manifest a single intense glow peak at around 192 degrees C, which suggests that this is an outstanding candidate for dosimetry applications. The kinetic parameters, activation energy and frequency factor of the glow curve were calculated using different analysis methods. Copyright (c) 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.