Solid solubility and photoluminescence of Y_3Al_5O_(12):Ce~(3+)prepared by using(Y_(1-x)Ce_x)_2O_3 as precursor

Trivalent cerium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet(YAG:Ce3+) phosphors are synthesized by solid-state reaction method through using(Y1-xCex)2O3 solid solutions as precursors. Solid solubility limits of Ce3+replacing Y3+in Y2O3and YAG are determined to be 40% and 7.5%, respectively, based on the relationship between the lattice parameter and chemical composition. Using(Y1-xCex)2O3 as precursors we synthesize YAG:Ce3+single phase at 1450°C and N2atmosphere. However, under the same conditions using CeO2there exists a second phase YAlO3as impurity. The photoluminescence intensity of YAG:Ce3+increases monotonically with the increase of Ce concentration until it reaches a maximum at solid solubility limits of Ce3+in YAG.     

Spectral Hole-Burning of Eu^3＋：Y2SiO5 Crystal at 16 K

By using an Ar^＋ ion laser, a tunable Rh 6G dye laser （linewidth 0.5cm^-1） pumped by the second harmonic of a YAG：Nd laser and a Coherent 899-21 dye laser as light sources and using a monochromator, a phase-locking amplifier and a computer as the data detecting system, we detect the optical properties of Eu^3＋-doped Y2SiO5 crystal. Persistent ,spectral hole burning （PSHB） are observed in the Eu^3＋ ions spectral lines （^5 Do-T Fo transition） in the crystal at the temperature of 16K. For 15mW dye laser burning the crystal for 0.1 s spectral holes with hole width about 80 MHz both at 579.62nm and at 579.82nm are detected and the holes can remain for a long time, more than 10h.     

Synthesis and microstructure analysis of composite Nd:YAG/YAG transparent ceramics

Transparent Nd：YAG/YAG composite ceramics are synthesized by solid-state reaction method using high- purity Y203, A1203, and Nd203 powders as raw materials. The mixed powder compacts are sintered at 1780 ℃ for 10 h under vacuum and annealed at 1450 ~C for 20 h in air. The Nd：YAG/YAG ceramics exhibit a pore free structure with an average grain size of about 30 μm. The microstructure of the Nd：YAG/YAG composite transparent ceramics is studied and there is no interface between Nd：YAG and YAG ceramics. The Nd ion distribution in one grain is also studied, which shows that there is no segregation of Nd ions as in Nd：YAG crystals.     

Continuous zircon-type tetragonal Y Bi0.95-xVO4： 0.05Dy^3＋ solid solution： synthesis,characterization, and optical properties

We synthesize continuous solid solutions with monophasic zircon-type structure of vanadates of formula YxBi0.95 VO4：0.05Dy^3＋ （x = 0-0.95） using a combined method of co-precipitation and hydrothermal synthesis. The X-ray diffractometer patterns confirm the formation of a solid solution of YBi0.95-xVO4：0.05Dy^3＋, and the results show that all the samples have monophasic zircon-type structure. The absorption spectra of the prepared phosphors show a blue-shift of the fundamental absorption band edge with increasing Y^3＋ content. An intense tunable characteristic emission of Dy^3＋ is observed with the increasing ratio of Y/Bi. Finally, the mechanism of luminescence of Dya＋ in the YBi0.95 VO4：0.05Dya＋ （x = 0-0.95） solid solution is analyzed and discussed.     

Synthesis of Nanocrystalline Cubic Hafnium Nitride by Reactive Mechanical Alloying

Nanocrystalline cubic hafnium nitride （HfNx） powders are prepared by the mechanical milling of Hafnium and hexagonal boron nitride （h-BN） powder mixtures. The prepared nanocrystalline HfNx is analyzed and characterized using x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. HfNx formation mechanisms in both mechanical milling and annealing processes are also studied in detail. It is found that HfNx is probably formed via the phase separation of Hf（N） solid solution alloy driven by reactive mechanical milling in which Hf（N） solid solution alloy is formed by Hf and N atoms through a diffusion reaction process. Meanwhile, a phase separation can also be induced in Hf （N） solid solution as the N content exceeding its solubility limit, leading to an additional way to produce HfNx. No HfB2 has been found during both milling and anneaiing processes.     

Study on Chemical Behavior of Energetic Deuterium-implanted into Li2TiO3

In ITER test blanket module design, the elucidation of tritium recovery from solid tritium breeding material is one of critical issues and Li2TiO3 is a candidate of tritium breeding materials. In the present study, in order to understand tritium behavior in solid breeding material Li2TiO3, the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS） and thermal desorption spectroscopy （TDS） experiments are carried out to elucidate the trapping behavior using 3 keV D2^＋ implanted sample. The Ti-2p XPS spectrum shows that a shoulder appeared at the lower energy side as increasing ion fluence, and it was suggested that Ti^3＋ was formed by the reduction of Ti^4＋.     

Vacuum Ultraviolet Excited Photoluminescence Properties of Novel Na3Y9O3（BO3）8：Tb^3＋ Phosphor

The novel vacuum ultraviolet （VUV） excited Na3 Y9O3 （BO3）8：Tb^3＋ （NYOB：Tb^3＋） green phosphor is prepared. Strong VUV photoluminescence and high quenching concentration of Tb^3＋ （20 wt%） are observed in NYOB： Tb^3＋ and the strong emission are correlated with the unique layer-type structure of NYOB. All the characteristic 4 f - 5d transitions of Tb^3＋ and the host absorption band in VUV region are identified in the excitation spectrum. Based on the results, the energy levels scheme of Tb^3＋ in NYOB：Tb^3＋ is first established. This newly developed NYOB：Tb^3＋ phosphor shows excellent optical properties when compared with the commercial Zn2SiO4：Mn^2＋ and would be a potential VUV-excited green phosphor.     

Influence of Gamma-Ray Irradiation on Absorption and Fluorescent Spectra of Nd：YAG and Yb：YAG Laser Crystals

We investigate the influence of gamma-ray irradiation on the absorption and fluorescent spectra of Nd^3＋：Y3A15 O12 （Nd： YAG） and Yb^3＋ ： Y3A15 O12 （Yb： YAG） crystals grown by the Czochralski method. Two additional absorption （AA） bands induced by gamma-ray irradiation appear at 255nm and 340nm. The former is contributed due to Fe^3＋ impurity, the latter is due to Fe^2＋ ions and F-type colour centres. The intensity of the excitation and emission spectra as well as the fluorescent lifetime of Nd：YAG crystal decrease after the irradiation of 100 Mrad gamma-ray. In contrast, the same dose irradiation does not impair the fluorescent properties of Yb：YAG crystal. These results indicate that Yb： YA G crystal possesses the advantage over Nd： YA G crystal that has better reliability for applications in harsh radiant environment.     

Morphology-controlled synthesis of SrTiO3 micro-scale particles

A novel and simple strategy of morphology-controlled Sr Ti O3（ST） micro-scale particle synthesis by the flux method is reported. Systematic experiments are designed to realize the tunable morphologies of the particles when the flux salt,sintering process, and the precursors are changed. The ST plates can be synthesized by plate-like Bi4Ti3O12（BIT） precursors in Na Cl flux. However, the as-synthesized Bi4Ti3O12 grains transform into reticular particles and finally into rods at higher temperature in Na Cl and KCl compounds. Besides, cubic ST particles are also prepared using different precursors as a comparative experiment. This study provides a strategy for further investigations in designing the morphology-controlled particles and efficient anisotropic materials of perovskite structure such as ferroelectric and photocatalyst.     

Preparation and Luminescence Characteristics of Ca3Y2（BO3）4：Eu^3＋ Phosphor

Ca3Y2 （BO3）4：Eu^3＋ phosphor is synthesized by high temperature solid-state reaction method, and the Iuminescence characteristics are investigated. The emission spectrum exhibits two strong red emissions at 613 and 621 nm corresponding to the electric dipole ^5 Do- ^7F2 transition of Eu^3＋ under 365 nm excitation, the reason is that Eu^3＋ substituting for Y^3＋ occupies the non-centrosymmetric position in the crystal structure of Ca3 Y2 （BO3）4. The excitation spectrum for 613 nm indicates that the phosphor can be effectively excited by ultraviolet （UV） （254 nm, 365nm and 400nm） and blue （470nm） light. The effect of Eu^3＋ concentration on the emission intensity of Ca3 Y2 （BO3）4 ：Eu^3＋ phosphor is measured, the result shows that the emission intensities increase with increasing Eu^3＋ concentration, then decrease. The CIE colour coordinates of Ca3Y2 （BO3）4：Eu^3＋ phosphor is （0.639, 0.357） at 15mol% Eu^3＋.     

Preparation and characterization of nanosized GdxBi0.95-xVO4：0.05Eu3＋ solid solution as red phosphor

A complete solid solutions with monophasic zircon-type structure of vanadates of formula GdxBio.95-xVO4：0.05Eu3＋ （x = 04）.95） are synthesized by combined method of co-precipitation and hydrothermal synthesis. Their microstructures and morphologies are characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and transmission electronic microscope, and the results show that each of all the samples has a monophasic zircon-type structure. The absorption spectrum of the prepared phosphor shows a blue-shift of the fundamental absorption band edge with increasing the gadolinium content. Under UV-light and visible-light excitation, all the prepared phosphors show the typical luminescence properties of Eu3＋ in the zircon-type structure. The emission intensity of GdxBi0.95-xVO4：0.05Eu3＋ （x = 0.55） is strongest in all samples under UV-light and visible-light excitations. Finally, the mechanisms of luminescence of Eu3＋ in the GdxBi0.95-xVO4：0.05Eu3＋ （x = 0-0.95） solid solutions are analyzed and discussed.     

Analytic equation of state for solids with multi-exponential potential based on analytic mean field potential approach and applied to the epsilon phase of solid oxygen

The thermodynamic properties of the ε phase of solid oxygen are studied by using the analytic mean field approach （AMFP）. Analytic expressions for the Helmholtz free energy, internal energy and equation of state of solid oxygen have been derived based on the multi-exponential potential. The formulism for the case of double-exponential （DE） model is applied to the ε phase of solid oxygen. Its four potential parameters are determined through fitting the experimental compression data of the ε phase of solid oxygen. Numerical results of the pressure dependence of the volume calculated by using the AMFP are in good agreement with the original experimental data. This suggests that the AMFP is a useful approach to study the thermodynamic properties of the ε phase of solid oxygen. Furthermore, we predict the variation of the volume, lattice parameters and intermolecular distances with pressure, and some thermodynamic quantities versus volume, at several higher temperatures.     

Energy transfer relation of a novel Ce3＋/Pr3＋/Eu3＋ co-doped Sr2.975-xLaxAIO4＋xF1-x solid solution phosphor

The photoluminescence properties and energy transfer of a new Ce3＋/pr3＋/Eu3＋ co-doped solid-solution composi- tion of Sr2.975-xLaxAlO4＋xF1-x （LSAF） phosphor are investigated. Upon doping Pr3＋ into lattices of LSAF：Ce host, a shoulder emission peak is observed at about 620 nm, owing to the transition of 1D2 →3H4. Addition of Eu3＋ to LSAF：Ce3＋, Pr3＋ phosphor results in a sharp emission peaked at 675 nm for the 5D0 →TF3 transition and an increase of the intensity of red emission for Pr3＋ with increasing Eu3＋ concentration. The pathways of energy transfer among Ce3＋, Pr3＋, and Eu3＋ are proposed to be responsible for color addition of a red component to the primary yellow emission, enabling a potential adjustable color for blue excitable warm white.     

Evaluation of Optical Properties of Self-Frequency-Doubling Crystal Yb：GdYAl3（BO3）4 for Laser Applications

Yb：GdYAl3 （B03）4 （Yb：GdYAB） is investigated as a new laser crystal for potential applications in self-frequency doubling. The emission and absorption properties of Yb：GdYAB crystal are studied, and the emission decay times of the upper laser level are measured. The emission cross sections are evaluated using the absorption cross section and principle of reciprocity. The other laser performance parameters, such as the minimum inversion fraction βmin, pump saturation intensity Isat and minimum pump intensity 1rain, are also calculated. The results are discussed in the framework of requirements for an effective diode-pumped Yb^3＋ laser system. Yb：GdYAB is expected to exhibit the most useful laser properties and to be superior to Yb：YAB crystal that has been excellent self-frequency-doubling crystal at present in many key spectroscopic parameter values.     

Improved photoluminescence behavior of Eu3＋-activated Ca5（PO4）3F red nanophosphor by adding Li＋, Au3＋, and Bi3＋ as co-dopants

A series of Ca499（PO4）3F：1%Eu^3＋, 1%X （X = Li＋, Au3＋, and Bi3＋） nanoparticles are prepared using hydrothermal method, with an average size of 33-62 nm. We study the improved photoluminescence properties of Ca4.99（PO4）3F：1%Eu3＋ by co-doping with Li＋, Au3＋, and Bi3＋ ions, respectively, and the enhancement of the emission intensities of Eu3＋ is observed in these samples. The effects of Li＋ acting as a charge compensator, Au3＋ as a plasma surface sensitizer, and Bi3＋ as an energy conversion agent are discussed. The results show Ca4.99（PO4）3F：1%Eu3＋, 1%X nanoparticles are a promising candidate as a red component for near-ultraviolet light-emitting diodes.     

Preparation of Cu（In,Ga）Se2 Thin Film Solar Cells by Selenization of Metallic Precursors in an Ar Atmosphere

Cu（In, Ga）Se2 thin films are deposited on Mo-coated glass substrates by Se vapour selenization of sputtered metallic precursors in the atmosphere of Ar gas flow under a pressure of about 10 Pa. The in situ heat treatment of as-grown precursor leads to the formation of a better alloy. During selenization, the growth of CuInSe2 phase preferably proceeds through Se-poor phases as CuSe and InSe at relatively low substrate temperature of 250℃, due to the absence of In2Se3 at intermediate stage at low reactor pressure. Subsequently, the Cu（In,Ga）Se2 phase is produced by the reactive diffusion of CuInSe2 with a Se-poor GaSe phase at high temperature of up to 560℃. The final film exhibits smooth surface and large grain size. The absorber is used to fabricate a glass/Mo/Cu（In, Ga）Se2/CdS/ZnO cell with the total-area efficiency of about 7%. The low open-circuit voltage value of the cell fabricated should result from the nonuniform distribution of In and Ga in the absorber, due to the diffusion-controlled reaction during the phase formation. The films, as well as devices, are characterized.     

Effects of A1 site occupation on dielectric and ferroelectric properties of Sr4CaRTi3Nb7O30（R=Ce,Eu） tungsten bronze ceramics

Sr4Ca RTi3Nb7O30（R = Ce, Eu） tungsten bronze ceramics are prepared by a standard solid state reaction method. The effects of A1 site occupation on the dielectric and ferroelectric properties of Sr4 Ca RTi3Nb7O30（R = Ce, Eu） tetragonal tungsten bronzes are investigated. The Sr4 Ca Ce Ti3Nb7O30 shows a normal transition behavior due to the closer size ion occupation in A1 sites, which could suppress the distortion of B2 octahedra effectively. Sr4 Ca Eu Ti3Nb7O30 ceramic exhibits two dielectric anomalies, which might be related to the fact that the large radius difference between Ca^2＋ and Eu^3＋ could lead to the uneven distribution of Ca^2＋ and Eu^3＋ in A1 sites and form two slightly different kinds of compositions with different transition temperatures in the structure. Our results indicate that the ionic radius difference in A1 sites plays an important role in determining the dielectric and ferroelectric natures of the filled tungsten bronze ceramics. Polarization–electric field（P–E） curves are evaluated at room temperature and both of them show hysteresis loops. Sr4 Ca Ce Ti3Nb7O30 shows a fat hysteresis loop, indicating the long-range ferroelectric order in the ceramic. The current density–electric field（J–E） curves are measured at room temperature with a largest leakage current density of ～ 10^-6A/cm^2, indicating that their leakage currents are rather low.     

Cation distributions estimated using the magnetic moments of the spinel ferrites Co_(1-x)Cr_xFe_2O_4 at 10K

（A）[B]2O4 ferrite samples with the composition COl_xCrxFe204 （0.0 ≤ x ≤1.0） are prepared using a hydrothermal method, and subjected to calcining in a tube furnace with an argon-flow at 1673 K for 2 h. X-ray diffraction patterns indicate that each of all the samples has a single phase cubic spinel structure with a space group of Fd3m. Magnetic measurements show that the saturation magnetization decreases with as the Cr content x increases. The cation distribution of the samples is estimated by fitting the dependence of the magnetic moments on x at l 0 K, using the quantum mechanical model previously proposed by our group. The calculated sum of the content values of the Cr3＋ and Cr2＋ cations occupying the （A） sites increases as the value of x increases. In the fitting process, the magnetic moment directions of the Cr3＋ and Cr2＋ cations are assumed to be antiparallel to those of the Fe and Co cations, respectively, which is in accordance with Hund＇s rules.     

Temperature dependence of the luminescence properties of LaCl3：Ce crystal

The optical properties of LaCl3：Ce crystal are reported in this paper. Optical transmission spectrum, photoluminescence and time resolved photoluminescence spectra at different temperatures are investigated. It is found that optical transmittance is as high as 80% between 320 nm and 600 nm, and no obvious absorption band is found in this region. Emission intensity and decay time of photoluminescence are quite stable with the change of the temperature between 80 K and 500 K. No thermal quenching is present up to 500 K, and decay time keeps at 17±2 ns. With the increase of the temperature, the whole emission bands and excitation bands present broadening and overlapping, leading to the strengthening of re-absorption of the Ce^3＋ emission, which makes the emission spectra have a red shift trend.     

Properties of Co-Doped 0.92（Na0.5Bi0.5） TiO3-0.08BaTiO3 Lead-Free Ceramics

Lead-free piezoelectric ceramics 0.92（Bi0.5Na0.5）TiO3-0.08BaTiO3 ＋ xmol% Co3＋ （BNBT-Co, x = 0-8） are prepared by the solid state reaction method. Effects of the amount of Co^3＋ on the electrical properties and phase transition are studied. The results indicate that the addition of Co^3＋ enhances the mechanical quality factor Q^3＋ significantly, whereas the dissipation factor tanδ has a minimum value at x = 3.5. Meanwhile, addition of Co^3＋ leads to small decreases of piezoelectric constant d33, and planar electromechanical coupling kp. The present 0.92（Bio.aNao.5） TiO3-0.08BaTiO3＋3.5 moi% Co^3＋ ceramics exhibit good performance with mechanical quality factor Qm = 910, piezoelectric constant d33 = 106pC/N, planar electromechanical coupling kp =10% and dissipation factor tanδ = 1.1% at 1 kHz. Saturated polarization hysteresis loops have been obtained for BNBT-Co ceramics. Two dielectric peaks at depolarization temperature Td and Tm appear in the curves of ε33^T vs temperature for the pure BNBT ceramics. However, the first dielectric peak Td disappears after the addition of Co^3＋, which means that the transition from ferroelectric to antiferroelectric phase has been eliminated.