Photoluminescence of Ce3+, Pr3+ and Tb3+ activated Sr3Ln(PO4)3 under VUV-UV excitation

The spectroscopic properties in VUV-Vis range for the eulytite structural phosphors SrGd(PO4)(3):Ln(3+) (Ln(3+) = Ce3+, Pr3+, Tb3+), Sr3C4(PO4)(3), Sr3Gd(PO4)(3) and Sr3Tb(PO4)(3) were investigated. The bands near 170 nm in VUV excitation spectra are assumed to connect with the host lattices related absorption. Thef d transitions of Ce3+, Pr3+ and Tb3+ in the host lattices are assigned and corroborated. A convenient experiment formulation on the relationship between the lowest f-d transition energies and n value for trivalent 4f(n)-series rare earth ions in these host lattices is applied. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.