Luminescent properties of Sr3Al2O6: Eu, Pr prepared by sol–gel method

A new red-emitting long afterglow Sr3Al2O6: Eu2+, Pr3+ phosphor was synthesized by sol–gel methods using Sr(NO3)2, Al(NO3)3·9H2O, Eu(NO3)3 and Pr(NO3)3 as raw materials. The crystalline structure of the phosphor powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction. Luminescent properties of the phosphor powders were analyzed by the fluorescence spectrophotometer. Sr3Al2O6: Eu2+, Pr3+ phosphor powders with single Sr3Al2O6 phase were prepared at 1200 °C for 2 h in the reducing atmosphere. Pr3+ doped made the light intensity and the light-lasting time of Sr3Al2O6: Eu2+, Pr3+ phosphors improved. The emission peaks of the Sr3Al2O6: Eu2+, Pr3+ phosphor powders lay at 612 nm with the excitation of 472 nm and the longest afterglow time could last for about 15 min at Pr3+ content of 0.06.