Local analysis of Eu2+ emission in CaAlSiN3

• Published in: Science and technology of advanced materials Vol. 14; no. 6; p. 064201
• Main Authors: Dierre, Benjamin, Takeda, Takashi, Sekiguchi, Takashi, Suehiro, Takayuki, Takahashi, Kohsei, Yamamoto, Yoshinobu, Xie, Rong-Jun, Hirosaki, Naoto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 01.12.2013; IOP Publishing; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: CaAlSiN; Cathodoluminescence; Composition; electron beam; Electron beams; Electron microscopes; Emission analysis; Europium; Excitation; Focus on Particle Processing Technology for Advanced Materials; Luminescence; Optical properties; oxynitride; phosphors
• ISSN: 1468-6996; 1878-5514
• DOI: 10.1088/1468-6996/14/6/064201

We have investigated the local luminescence properties of Eu-doped CaAlSiN 3 by using low-energy electron beam (e-beam) techniques. The particles yield broad emission centered at 655 nm with a shoulder at higher wavelength under light excitation, and a broad band around 643 nm with a tail at 540 nm under e-beam excitation. Using cathodoluminescence (CL) in a scanning electron microscope (SEM), we have observed small and large particles, which, although with different compositions, exhibit Eu 2+ -related emissions at 645 and 635 nm, respectively. Local CL measurements reveal that the Eu 2+ emission may actually consist of several bands. In addition to the red broad band, regularly spaced sharp peaks have been occasionally observed. These luminescence variations may originate from a variation in the composition inside CaAlSiN 3 .