Impact of Eu3 +/Y3+ doping on the structural and optical properties of SrTiO3 perovskite phosphor and multi-functional applications

Abstract

A latent fingerprint (LFP) examination is essential for identifying fingerprints at crime sites, and personal data for legal operations requires economical, eco-friendly, and sensitive new materials. Here, a new composition of intense red-emitting Eu3+ and Y3+ co-doped SrTiO<inf>3</inf> perovskites nanophosphor synthesized using a modified sol-gel-assisted combustion technique has been reported. To explore the structural and optical features of the nanophosphors the samples are characterized by various techniques. The powder XRD pattern reveals that the approximate crystallite size is 30 nm, which is consistent with TEM. It is found that with the mid- and near-ultraviolet light excitation, Eu3+ and Y3+ co-doped SrTiO<inf>3</inf> nanophosphor displays a strong red emission at 618 nm for optimal concentrations (3 mol% Eu). The CIE (0.656, 0.344), color purity 95 %, CRI 98 %, and CCT values 2435 K, which is less than 5000 K reveals that the Eu3+ and Y3+ co-doped SrTiO<inf>3</inf> phosphor was highly useful for the fabrication of warm LED and display device applications. Further, the optimized phosphor was tested (under UV light of 254 nm) for the visualization of LFP and security ink on various material surfaces. The results demonstrated that it provides an effective method for visualizing ridge patterns, offering a promising approach for applications in these areas. Based on the findings, Eu3+ and Y3+ co-doped SrTiO<inf>3</inf> show potential for various optoelectronic applications, including WLEDs, LFP detection, security inks, and LEDs. © 2025 Elsevier B.V.