The State of Dy Incorporated in SrAl2O4 Crystals by Low-temperature Annealing and Its Photoluminescence and Afterglow Properties

We synthesized SrAl2O4:Eu,Dy by a polymerized complex method with low-temperature annealing and investigated the effect of this annealing treatment on the state of Dy incorporated in SrAl2O4 sintered at 1080 degrees C. At 4%, Dy was incorporated completely in the SrAl2O4 when pre-annealed at 650 degrees C (3 h) followed by 750 degrees C (3 h). Photoluminescence and afterglow properties improved owing to pre-annealing. The results indicate that annealing at an appropriate temperature enables high doping and homogeneous Dy distribution in the crystals.