Crystal structure and luminescence of Sr0.99Eu0.01AlSiN3

Strontium europium aluminum silicon nitride, Sr0.99Eu0.01AlSiN3, was synthesized by heating a mixture of binary nitrides at 2173 K and a N2 gas pressure of 190 MPa. Single crystals of Sr0.99Eu0.01AlSiN3 approximately 30 μm were obtained. The structure was confirmed to be an isotypic structure of CaAlSiN3 in the orthorhombic space group Cmc21, analyzed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The lattice parameters are a=9.843(3), b=5.7603(16), c=5.177(2) Å, cell volume=293.53(17) Å3. It shows an orange-red photoluminescence by 5d→4f transition of Eu2+ at around 610 nm under excitation ranging from ultraviolet to 525 nm. The photoluminescence intensity, temperature characteristics, and oxidative stability were comparable or superior to those of CaAlSiN3:Eu2+ phosphor.