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Mechanism

The mechanism underlying this phenomenon is not fully understood.¹ It is neither fluorescence nor phosphorescence.²³ In fluorescence, the lifetime of the excited state lasts a few nanoseconds. In phosphorescence, even if the emission lives several seconds, this is due to deexcitation between two electronic states of different spin multiplicity. Persistent luminescence involves energy traps (such as electron or hole traps) in a material,⁴ which are filled during the excitation. Afterward, the stored energy is gradually released to light emitter centers, usually by a fluorescence-like mechanism.

Examples of use

Persistent luminescence materials are mainly used in safety signs, watch dials, decorative objects and toys.⁵ They have also been used as nanoprobes in small animal optical imaging.⁶

See also

• Luminous paint
• Strontium aluminate

References

1. T. Aitasalo, P. Deren, J. Hölsä, H. Jungner, J.C. Krupa, M. Lastusaari, J. Legendziewicz, J. Niittykoski, and W. Strek. Persistent luminescence phenomena in materials doped with rare earth ions. J. Solid State Chem., 171 :114, 2003. ↩

2. IUPAC Gold Book – fluorescence http://goldbook.iupac.org/F02453.html ↩

3. IUPAC Gold Book – phosphorescence http://goldbook.iupac.org/P04569.html ↩

4. H.W. Leverenz. Luminescent solids (phosphors). Science, 109 :183–189, 1949. ↩

5. Xu, Jian; Tanabe, Setsuhisa (2019-01-01). "Persistent luminescence instead of phosphorescence: History, mechanism, and perspective". Journal of Luminescence. 205: 581–620. Bibcode:2019JLum..205..581X. doi:10.1016/j.jlumin.2018.09.047. ISSN 0022-2313. S2CID 105579021. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002223131831562X ↩

6. Q. le Masne de Chermont, C. Chanéac, J. Seguin, F. Pellé, S. Maitrejean, J.P. Jolivet, D. Gourier, M. Bessodes and D. Scherman. Nanoprobes with near-infrared persistent luminescence for in vivo imaging. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 104 :9266–9271 2007. ↩