Synthesis and photoluminescence of CeO2:Eu3+ phosphor powders

The crystalline structure and photoluminescence (PL) properties of europium-doped cerium dioxide synthesized by the solid-state reaction method were analyzed. CeO2:Eu3+ phosphor powders exhibit the pure cubic fluorite phase up to 10 mol% doping concentration of Eu3+. With indirect excitation of CeO2 host at 373 nm, the PL intensity quickly increases with increasing Eu3+ concentration, up to about 1 mol%, and then decreases indicating the concentration quenching. While with direct excitation (467 nm), much more stronger PL emissions, especially the electric dipole emission 5D0–7F2 at 612 nm, are observed and no concentration quenching occurs up to 10 mol% doping concentration of Eu3+. The nature of this behavior and the cause of the concentration quenching were discussed.