The influence of erbium ion concentration on the optical properties of BaF₂:ErF₃ crystals was investigated. Four ErF₃ concentration (0.05, 0.08, 0.15 and 0.5 mol% ErF₃)-doped BaF₂ crystals were obtained using the Bridgman technique. Room temperature optical absorption in the 250–850 nm spectral range was measured, and the photoluminescence (PL) and decay times were also investigated. The Judd–Ofelt (JO) approximation was used, taking into account four absorption peaks (at 377, 519, 653 and 802 nm). The JO intensity parameters, Ω_t (t = 2, 4, 6), were calculated. The influence of the ErF₃ concentration on the JO parameters, branching ratio, radiative transition probability and radiative lifetime were studied. The obtained results were compared with measured values and with those reported in the literature. Under excitation at 380 nm, the well-known green (539 nm) and red (668 nm) emissions were obtained. The calculated and experimental radiative lifetimes were in millisecond range for green and red emissions. The intensity of the PL spectra varied with the Er³⁺ ion concentration. The emission intensity increased linearly or exponentially, depending on the ErF₃ concentration. Under excitation at 290 nm, separate to the green and red emissions, a new UV emission band (at 321 nm) was obtained. Other research has not reported the UV emission or the influence of ErF₃ concentration on emission behavior.

This study deals with SrAl₂O₄: Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺ phosphor pigments prepared by an optimized perchlorate-assisted combustion synthesis and tested for developing glow-in-the-dark safety markings. Recipes with different oxidizer/fuel ratios were designed to create an in-situ reducing-reaction atmosphere and promote Eu³⁺ → Eu²⁺ reduction, which is responsible for the specific long-lasting, green emission of the pigments. The obtained data proved the efficiency of glycine-rich mixtures (up to 200% glycine excess), which led to improved optical features, as compared to the reference stoichiometric sample. The best results in terms of emission intensity and decay time were obtained in the case of 100% glycine excess. The sample with optimum emission characteristics was successfully tested in making glow-in-the-dark coatings applied to two different substrates and using pigment concentrations between 10 and 33% weight.