Ag nanoparticles significantly improve the slow decay brightness of SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+ by the surface plasmon effect.

Long afterglow luminescence material is an important energy storage material. For large-scale applications, the low afterglow brightness especially in the slow decay process is a weak point. At present, the methods to improve the afterglow performance are mainly focused on the study of defects and luminescence centers in the matrix. Herein, from the point of improving the utilization rate of luminescence center and traps, Ag nanoparticles, which can introduce the surface plasmon effect (SPE) are deposited on the surface of SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+ (SAO). The results show that the afterglow intensity of SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+ is enhanced, and the luminescence intensity in the slow decay process is enhanced by about 100%, which is significant for SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+. Moreover, we also solve the stability water-resistance of Ag/SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+ by constructing Ag/SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+@SiO2 composite material. In this study, we explained the enhancement mechanism of Ag/SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+ and provided a new method for enhancing the afterglow performance of SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+.