Light storage and thermal-assisted switching of SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+

Abstract

In this work, we demonstrate and evaluate the viability of SrAl2O4:Eu[Formula: see text], Dy[Formula: see text] crystals for long-term light storage applications at low temperatures that can be activated at higher temperatures for on-demand lighting applications. The switching mechanism is discussed from the point of view of the possible interplay between charge transport and the persistent luminescence in this system. Step-wise temperature-dependent luminescence decay time measurement is carried out to determine the optimal temperature for photo-charging and the operational temperature limit of the crystal-under-test as light sources.