Strongly adherent SrAl2O4:Eu films were fabricated on the rough surface of an alumina substrate by a combination of the radio frequency (rf) magnetron sputtering technique and a post-thermal treatment. A crystalline SrAl2O4:Eu2+ film was obtained after annealing at 1000 degrees C in a reduced atmosphere and it exhibited an intensely green photolumninscence (PL) and triboluminescence (Tribo-L), while an as-deposition film showed an amorphous state and a weakly red PL. It was found that the fabricated films possessed a strong durability of friction and exhibited no peeling, cracking, and breaking after Tribo-L measurements. The Tribo-L mechanism is discussed on the basis of the alternative carrier trap model presented by Clabau [Chem. Mater., 17, 3904 (2006)]. (c) 2007 The Electrochemical Society.