Impulsive excitation of mechanoluminescence in europium activated strontium ortho-silicate phosphor

Abstract

Europium doped strontium ortho-silicate (Sr2SiO4:Eu2+) phosphor was prepared by the traditional high temperature solid state reaction method. The crystal structure of sintered phosphor was consistent with the orthorhombic crystallography with space group Pmna. The surface of the prepared phosphor was not found to be uniform and particle distribution in different size. An energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) spectrum confirms the presence of elements in sintered phosphor. The mechanoluminescence (ML) intensity of Sr2SiO4:Eu2+ phosphor increases linearly with increasing impact velocity of the moving piston which suggests that these phosphors can be used as sensors to detect the stress of an object. Thus, the present investigation indicates the piezo-electricity is responsible to produce ML in prepared Sr2SiO4:Eu2+ phosphor. The time of the peak ML intensity and the decay rate did not change significantly with respect to increasing impact velocity of the moving piston and peak ML intensity increases linearly.