Improving the luminescence properties of the near-infrared phosphor Ca0.8Sr0.2O:Eu2+via energy transfer and its application in the concentration detection of ethanol solutions

Abstract

In this work, a near-infrared (NIR) phosphor Ca_0.8Sr_0.2O:Eu²⁺ was prepared via a solid-state method, and its luminescence properties were improved by co-doping with Ce³⁺ ions. The decay curves of Ca_0.8Sr_0.2O:Ce³⁺, Eu²⁺ confirmed that there was an obvious energy transfer from Ce³⁺ to Eu²⁺, which enhanced the quantum efficiency of Ca_0.8Sr_0.2O:Eu²⁺. The thermal stability can also be enhanced by introducing Ce, which reduces the probability of non-radiative transitions at elevated temperatures, thereby minimizing electron loss. An NIR light emitting diode (LED) was fabricated by combining a blue LED chip with Ca_0.8Sr_0.2O:Ce³⁺, Eu²⁺, which was applied for the concentration detection of ethanol solutions.