Luminescence of Ce3+ doped LaPO4 nanophosphors upon Ce3+ 4f–5d and band-to-band excitation

Luminescence spectral-kinetic studies have been performed for pure and Ce-doped LaPO4 micro- and nanosized phosphates using synchrotron radiation for the excitation within 5–20 eV energy range at T=8–300 K. Mechanisms for the excitation of Ce3+ 5d–4f emission as well as the quenching processes are discussed. The influence of surface defects has been considered to modify considerably the luminescent properties of nanosized phosphors upon the excitation in the energy range of Ce3+ 4f–5d transitions and LaPO4 host absorption.