Studies on luminescence from a cerium-doped strontium stannate phosphor

The crystal structure and morphology of Ce(3+) -doped SrSnO3 materials prepared using the solid-state reaction method were extensively characterized using experimental techniques. X-Ray diffraction results show that the cerium substitution of strontium does not change the structure of the strontium stannate. Raman spectroscopy was used to investigate the microstructures and lattice vibrations. Environmental scanning electron microscopy images showed that phosphors aggregate and their particles form irregular shapes. SrSnO3 exhibits an intense green emission with a broad band originating from the 5d(1)  → 4f(1) transition of cerium. It was observed that, after exposure to beta-irradiation, the glow curve of this material has two broad thermoluminescence peaks, one centered at ~ 127°C and the other at ~ 245°C for a heating rate of 5 K/s. The kinetic parameters, which include the frequency factor and the activation energy of the material, were calculated using Chen's method, after beta-irradiation. The fading and reusability of the phosphor were also studied and it was found that the phosphor is suitable for radiation dosimetry.