Ln3+ (Ln = Eu,Dy) - doped Sr2CeO4 fine phosphor particles: Wet chemical preparation,energy transfer and tunable luminescence

The Sr₂CeO₄:Ln³⁺ (Ln = Eu, Dy) fine phosphor particles were prepared by a facile wet chemical approach, in which the consecutive hydrothermal-combustion reaction was performed. The doping of Ln³⁺ into Sr₂CeO₄ has little influence on the structure of host, and the as-prepared samples display well-crystallized spherical or elliptical shape with an average particle size at about 100–200 nm. For Eu³⁺ ions-doped Sr₂CeO₄, with the increase of Eu³⁺-doping concentration, the blue light emission band with the maximum at 468 nm originating from a Ce⁴⁺ → O^2? charge transfer of the host decreases obviously and the characteristic red light emission of Eu³⁺ (⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition at 618 nm) is enhanced gradually. Simultaneously, the fluorescent lifetime of the broadband emission of Sr₂CeO₄ decreases with the doping of Eu³⁺, indicating an efficient energy transfer from the host to the doping Eu³⁺ ions. The energy transfer efficiency from the host to Eu³⁺ was investigated in detail, and the emitting color of Sr₂CeO₄:Eu³⁺ can be easily tuned from blue to red by varying the doping concentration of Eu³⁺ ions. Moreover, the luminescence of Dy³⁺-doped Sr₂CeO₄ was also studied. Similar energy transfer phenomenon can be observed, and the incorporation of Dy³⁺ into Sr₂CeO₄ host leads to the characteristic emission of ⁴F_9/2 → ⁶H_15/2 (488 nm, blue light) and ⁴F_9/2 → ⁶H_13/2 (574 nm, yellow light) of Dy³⁺. The Sr₂CeO₄:Ln³⁺ fine particles with tunable luminescence are quite beneficial for its potential applications in the optoelectronic fields.