Dual co-doping strategy for prolonged luminescence in laser-sintered BaAl2O4:Eu2+, RE3+ ceramics.

This work reports on the influence of co-doping on the luminescence and persistent luminescence properties of BaAl 2 O 4 (BaO·Al 2 O 3) laser-sintered ceramics. The samples were doped with Eu and doubly co-doped with different rare earths (Dy, Er, Nd, Pr, and Tm) followed by laser-sintering without an atmospheric control, at a power density of 1.6 W/mm2. All sintered ceramics contained the hexagonal BaAl 2 O 4 phase and had a homogeneous microstructure. A photoluminescence emission band centered at 495 nm was observed, which was due to the 4f65 d1 → 4f7 Eu2+ transition in the BaAl 2 O 4 matrix. The persistent luminescence emission was monitored for 15 min after charging at 345 nm for 3 min. The combination of Nd and Dy co-doping led to substantial improvements in decay time and persistent luminescence intensity compared to individual co-doping. These results suggested that the two co-dopants interacted by modifying the trap configurations in the BaAl 2 O 4 matrix. • Laser sintering has proven effective in sintering BaAl 2 O 4 :Eu,RE ceramics, exhibiting persistent luminescence properties. • To achieve long-lasting persistent luminescence, it is crucial to choose the right co-dopants or trap depth. • The combination of Nd and Dy exhibits superior persistent luminescence results compared to samples co-doped individually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]