Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 June 2011
Ca3Y2(SiO4)3 powder activated with Eu was prepared with ceramic method. Its spectroscopic properties in VUV-UV-Vis region together with structure and morphology were analyzed. Luminescence measurements indicated that Ca3Y2(SiO4)3 prepared in a reducing atmosphere contained both Eu2+ and Eu3+ ions. The excitation could be tuned to generate a complex luminescence consisting of a broad band related to a blue-greenish 5d → 4f emission of Eu2+ and 4f → 4f red luminescence of Eu3+. Their superposition covered the whole visible part of spectrum and appeared almost white among others upon excitation around 390 nm.