Energy conversion in LiSrPO4 doped with Pr3+ ions

We report on the time-resolved luminescence spectroscopic characterization of LiSrPO4 doped with Pr3+-ions, that we found potentially attractive for scintillation applications. The spectroscopic study included measurements of photoluminescence, X-ray excited luminescence, thermally stimulated luminescence and time-resolved pulse cathodoluminescence spectra. In addition, luminescence decay kinetics were studied upon high-frequency X-ray and pulse cathode beam excitation. LiSrPO4:Pr3+ showed Pr3+ emission connected with intraconfigurational 4f(2)-> 4f(2) and interconfigurational 4f(1)5d -> 4f(2) transitions. The presence of defects was shown with thermoluminescence measurements and suggested to be the main reason for delayed recombination of charge carriers on Pr3+ 4f(1)5d states. Some peculiarities of host-to-impurity energy transfer are discussed