Luminescence of Ce 3+ doped LaPO 4 nanophosphors upon Ce 3+ 4f–5d and band-to-band excitation

Abstract

Luminescence spectral-kinetic studies have been performed for pure and Ce-doped LaPO 4 micro- and nanosized phosphates using synchrotron radiation for the excitation within 5–20 eV energy range at T=8–300 K. Mechanisms for the excitation of Ce 3+ 5d–4f emission as well as the quenching processes are discussed. The influence of surface defects has been considered to modify considerably the luminescent properties of nanosized phosphors upon the excitation in the energy range of Ce 3+ 4f–5d transitions and LaPO 4 host absorption.