Abstract
Structural and optical properties of erbium- and manganese-doped strontium aluminates (SrAl2O4) phosphor materials synthesized by a solid state reaction were investigated. The samples presented the fundamental optical transitions due to Er3+ and Mn2+ which are typical features of the well-diluted doping process. A significant enhancement of the Er3+ optical emission band at 1530 nm was observed when the matrix is co-doped with Mn. Photoluminescence intensity under ultraviolet excitation was three times larger as compared to samples without Mn content. A model of energy transfer mechanism from Mn2+ to Er3+ ions due to optical energy matching is proposed to explain the experimental results. This result, presented first time, can be applied as useful tool for developments in optical communications. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.