Photoluminescence of 4SrO•7Al2O3 ceramics sintered with the aid of B2O3

4SrO(.)7Al(2)O(3) long persistent ceramics with different B2O3 contents prepared by sintering were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and photoluminescence spectrum (PLS). The ceramics showed a two peak emission at 400 and 486 nm, due to the different lattice sites Eu2+ ions held in the 4SrO(.)7Al(2)O(3) lattice. B2O3 plays several different roles in the ceramics. In the synthesis process, it greatly promotes the formation of 4SrO(.)7Al(2)O(3) phosphor and helps to form dense ceramics at 1400degreesC. Furthermore, with the addition of B2O3, the emission peaks shifted to the short wavelength side due to lattice contraction. The afterglow characteristics result from the emission at 486 nm other than the emission at 400 nm. The duration of the phosphor was enhanced by the addition of B2O3, due to the trap center formed in the 4SrO(.)7Al(2)O(3) host. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd and Techna S.r.l. All rights reserved.