Deep-trap persistent luminescence materials exhibit unique properties of energy storage and controllable photon release under additional stimulation, allowing for both wavelength and intensity multiplexing to realize high-capacity storage in the next-generation information storage system. However, the lack of suitable persistent luminescence materials with deep traps is the bottleneck of such storage technologies. In this study, we successfully developed a series of novel deep-trap persistent luminescence materials in the Ln2+/Ln3+-doped SrSi2O2N2 system (Ln2+ = Yb, Eu; Ln3+ = Dy, Ho, Er) by applying the strategy of trap depth engineering. Interestingly, the trap depth can be tailored by selecting different codopants, and it monotonically increases from 0.90 to 1.18 eV in the order of Er, Ho, and Dy. This is well explained by the energy levels indicated in the host-referred binding energy scheme. The orange-red-emitting SrSi2O2N2:Yb,Dy and green-emitting SrSi2O2N2:Eu,Dy phosphors are demonstrated to be good candidates of information storage materials, which are attributed to their deep traps, narrow thermoluminescence glow bands, high emission efficiency, and excellent chemical stability. This work not only validates the suitability of deep-trap persistent luminescence materials in the information storage applications, but also broadens the avenue to explore such kinds of new materials for applications in anticounterfeiting and advanced displays.
Keywords: SrSi2O2N2; advanced optical materials; information storage; persistent luminescence; trap depth engineering.