X‐ray and photoluminescence properties of Sm3+ doped barium sulfide

X‐ray induced luminescence (XL) properties of phosphor materials made of samarium doped barium sulfide have been investigated. The samples were prepared by solid‐phase reaction method heated at 1200 °C for 10 hours from the mixture of barium sulfide (BaS, 99.9%) and samarium sulfide (Sm2S3, 99.9%) in evacuated silica ampoule. The concentration of Sm was from 0 to 5 at.%. The optical characterizations of the samples were carried out by photoluminescence (PL) and XL spectroscopies at room temperature. The red light XL can be visually observed clearly in the dark. The XL spectral bands at 565, 600, and 650 nm bands were identified and attributed to the transitions from 4G5/2 to 6H5/2, 6H7/2, and 6H9/2 in Sm3+ ions respectively. The XL and PL intensity as a function of Sm content have a maximum at 2 at.% followed by a decrease of intensity due to concentration quenching of Sm ions. The spectral shape of XL was similar to 325 nm excited PL and was different to 405 nm PL. The shape of luminescence has an influence on the direct or indirect excitation of rare‐earth ions (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)