Dual-mode luminescence light intensity modulation characteristics and optical radiation dependence of stannate photochromic ceramics

Alkaline earth stannate is characterized by good physicochemical stability. It has been applied in the field of optical information storage by coupling photoluminescence intensity modulation and photochromic performance, which has attracted the attention of researchers. The development of alkaline earth stannate ceramics with high light intensity modulation properties and non-destructive reading of optical information is of great research value. In this study, Er3+-doped Ca2SnO4 photochromic ceramics were prepared by high-temperature solid-phase reaction method. Alternating UV light irradiation and thermal stimulation, the ceramics achieve a reversible transition between light and dark gray. Er3+ doping gives the ceramics dual-mode luminescence light intensity modulation performance. When the doping amount of Er3+ is 0.01 mol, there is a maximum down-conversion luminous intensity modulation ratio of 93%, which is higher than most of the same type of photochromic materials. The photochromic behavior is explained using the capture-release model of traps for carriers, and the dual-mode luminescence light-intensity modulation behavior is analyzed through the energy transfer mechanism. The optical radiation response properties were investigated and the optimum light response wavelength is found to be 290 nm, which is related to the optical band gap Eg. And the selection of the optimal light response wavelength can effectively improve the performance of photochromic and light intensity modulation. This study provides a promising strategy for performance enhancement of photochromic materials.