Reduction of Eu3+ to Eu2+ in MAl2Si2O8 (M=Ca, Sr, Ba) in air condition

In general, the reduction of Eu3+ to Eu2+ in solids needs an annealing process in a reducing atmosphere. In this paper, it is of great interest and importance to find that the reduction of Eu3+ to Eu2+ can be realized in a series of alkaline-earth metal aluminum silicates MAl2Si2O8 (M=Ca, Sr, Ba) just in air condition. The Eu2+-doped MAl2Si2O8 (M=Ca, Sr, Ba) powder samples were prepared in air atmosphere by Pechini-type sol–gel process. It was found that the strong band emissions of 4f65d1–4f7 from Eu2+ were observed at 417, 404 and 373 nm in air-annealed CaAl2Si2O8, SrAl2Si2O8 and BaAl2Si2O8, respectively, under ultraviolet excitation although the Eu3+ precursors were employed. In addition, under low-voltage electron beam excitation, Eu2+-doped MAl2Si2O8 also shows strong blue or ultraviolet emission corresponding to 4f65d1–4f7 transition. The reduction mechanism from Eu3+ to Eu2+ in these compounds has been discussed in detail.