Strong reddish-orange light emission from stress-activated Srn+1SnnO3n+1:Sm3+ (n = 1, 2, ∞) with perovskite-related structures

We report mechanoluminescence (ML) in Sm3+-doped Srn+1SnnO3n+1 (n = 1, 2, ∞) phosphors with perovskite-related structures, which consist of layered units depending on the number of n. The intensity of the ML was strongly dependent on the layered structure; the ML intensity for Sr3Sn2O7:Sm3+ was three orders of magnitude higher than that for SrSnO3:Sm3+. The charge transfer state (CTS) band in the photoluminescence excitation spectra was observed for Sr3Sn2O7:Sm3+ and Sr2SnO4:Sm3+, indicating that the efficient energy transfers from the host to the Sm3+ ions. The formation of CTS and the layered structure may be responsible for this ML enhancement.