Simulation of the fben d transitions of lanthanide ions in YPO4 using quantum-chemical calculations

We constructed an effective one-electron Hamiltonian by using the 4f/5d energies and eigenvectors obtained from the first-principles calculation with the relativistic self-consistent discrete variational Slater software package (DV-Xα). From the effective Hamiltonian, we obtained the crystal-field and spin-orbit interaction parameters for the 4f and 5d electrons of lanthanide ions (Ce³⁺, Pr³⁺, Nd³⁺ and Eu³⁺⁾ doped in YPO₄, and these parameters were used to calculate the 4f^N-4f^N-15d transition. Comparison with experiments shows that the obtained parameters are reasonable and the excitation spectra can be well predicted.     

4fN-15d energy levels of lanthanides: aquasi-angular-momentum approach and its application to Cs2NaYF6:Er3+

<正>The spin-orbit interaction of the 5d electron needs to be taken into account to give the proper energy structure for the 4f^N-15d configuration of heavy lanthanide ions occupying a site with ligands forming an octahedron.This paper derives theoretical results for the energy structure by treating the t₂ orbitals as quasi p orbitals and then using angular-momentum coupling techniques.An analytic expression for the electric dipole absorption line strengths between 4f^N multiplets and 4f^N-15d states is given in terms of various angular-momentum quantum numbers and re-coupling coefficients.The result is then applied to interpret the excitation spectrum of Cs₂NaYF₆:Er³⁺.The high-spin and low-spin states of Cs₂NaYF₆:Er³⁺ are discussed in terms of the wavefunctions obtained by using the developed theoretical model.     

Non-collinear spin DFT for lanthanide ions in doped hexagonal NaYF4

Trivalent lanthanide ions (Ln³⁺) doped in hexagonal (β)-NaYF₄ nanocrystals (Na₂₄Y₂₃Ln₁F₉₆, Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd) were systematically studied by density functional theory (DFT) with a perturbative account for spin–orbit coupling. The simulated results, including the optimised molecular structures, electronic and magnetic properties, are compared to previous spin-polarised DFT studies in the same system. The spin–orbit coupling effects become significant with the increase in the number of unpaired 4f electrons in the doped lanthanide ions, particularly for the Sm³⁺-, Eu³⁺- and Gd³⁺-doped nanocrystals. Abnormal behaviour of Eu³⁺-doped nanocrystals was observed due to the Wybourne–Downer mechanism. A ‘sandwich-like’ 2p–4f–4d,5d electronic structure for Na₂₄Y₂₃Ln₁F₉₆ and the energies of the highest occupied 4f electrons from Ce³⁺ to Gd³⁺ are consistent with Dorenbos's relationship. The energy difference between the first and second Russell–Saunders terms (^2S+1L) of the lanthanide dopant is consistent with Carnall's experimental results and with earlier spin-polarised DFT calculations.     

Luminescence spectroscopy of Ce3+-doped ABaPO4 (A=Li, Na, K) phosphors

Ce³⁺ doped ABaPO₄ (A=Li, Na, K) phosphors were prepared by conventional high temperature solid-state reaction. The phosphors were investigated by XRD, photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra, and luminescence decay curves. The five 5d levels corresponding to the 4f¹→4f⁰5d¹ transition of Ce³⁺ ions were identified. The spectroscopic parameters, e.g., the 5d barycenter, the crystal-field splitting, and the Stokes shift, were discussed. LiBaPO₄:Ce³⁺ phosphor could be efficiently excited by the near-UV lights (330–420 nm) and showed a broad emission band in the range of 430–620 nm with the maximum wavelength at 468 nm. In contrast, Ce³⁺-doped NaBaPO₄ and KBaPO₄ showed only excitation bands in a limited UV region (230–370 nm) and have blue emission at 385 nm and 416 nm, respectively. The temperature quenching of luminescence and the chromaticity coordinates were reported. The luminescence properties were discussed by analyzing the crystal structure and the local surroundings of Ce³⁺ ions on the Ba²⁺ sites.     

Excitation and Emission Spectra of Cs2NaLnCl6 Crystals Using Synchrotron Radiation

ABSTRACT

The visible emission and vacuum ultraviolet excitation spectra of the series Cs₂NaLnCl₆ (Ln = Y, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Er, Yb) and Cs₂NaYCl₆:Ln³⁺ (Ln = Sm, Er) have been recorded using synchrotron radiation at room temperature, and in some cases at 10 K. The excitation spectra comprise features associated with charge transfer, excitation from the valence to conduction band, and impurity bands. No d–f emissions were observed for these Ln³⁺ ions, so that the emission bands comprise intraconfigurational 4f ^N –4f ^N transitions and impurity bands, whose natures are discussed. Theoretical simulations of the f–d absorption spectra have been included. The comparison with data from the synchrotron at Desy enables a comprehensive account of the ground (or vibrationally excited ground for Ln²⁺) states of the Ln³⁺ 4f ^N , Ln³⁺ 4f ^N?15d, and Ln²⁺ 4f ^N+1 configurations relative to the valence and conduction bands of Cs₂NaLnCl₆, for which the band gaps are between 6.6 and 8.1 eV.     

luminescence of BaGa<Subscript>2</Subscript>Se<Subscript>4</Subscript> crystals activated by Eu<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and Ce<Superscript>3+</Superscript> ions

We have studied the effect of doping with Eu²⁺ and Ce³⁺ ions on the photoluminescence (PL) of BaGa₂Se₄ crystals in the temperature range 77–300 K. We have established that the broad bands with maxima at wavelengths 456 nm and 506 nm observed in the photoluminescence spectra of BaGa₂Se₄:Ce³⁺ crystals are due to intracenter transitions 5d → ²F_7/2 and 5d →²F_5/2 of the Ce³⁺ ions, while the broad photoluminescence band with maximum at 521 nm in the spectrum of BaGa₂Se₄:Eu²⁺ is associated with 4f⁶ 5d → 4f⁷ (⁸S_7/2) transitions of the Eu²⁺ ion. We show that in BaGa₂Se₄:Eu²⁺,Ce³⁺ crystals, excitation energy is transferred from the Ce³⁺ ions to the Eu²⁺ ions.     

中子探测晶体Li6Gd(BO3)3:Ce的光谱特性研究

文章用提拉法生长出Li₆Gd(BO₃)₃:Ce晶体,并对其光谱性能与发光过程进行了探索. 借助于真空紫外-紫外透过光谱测试,发现晶体的透过光谱中存在Ce³⁺离子和Gd³⁺的特征吸收峰,同时还存在与Ce⁴⁺离子相关的电荷迁移带. 对晶体的真空紫外-紫外激发发射光谱进行研究发现,在晶体存在着Ce³⁺离子的5d→4f辐射跃迁发光与Gd³⁺离子的4f→4f辐射跃迁发光,而且存在着Gd³⁺→Ce³⁺之间的能量传递. 对Li₆Gd(BO₃)₃:Ce晶体的X射线与γ射线激发发射光谱研究可知,晶体在高能射线激发下的闪烁光主要是Ce³⁺离子的发光. 关键词： 6Gd(BO₃)₃:Ce晶体')" href="#">Li₆Gd(BO₃)₃:Ce晶体 真空紫外-紫外透过光谱 真空紫外-紫外激发发射光谱 能量传递     

Luminescent properties of Eu and Ce ions in strontium litho-silicate Li2SrSiO4

The luminescent properties of Eu²⁺ and Ce³⁺ ions in Li₂SrSiO₄ have been studied upon excitation in the 2-20 eV region. Based on the results of luminescent measurements, values of the crystal field splitting and the centroid shift of the Ce³⁺5d configuration in Li₂SrSiO₄ were found and compared with those of Ce³⁺ ions in some other inorganic compounds. The Eu²⁺ ions in Li₂SrSiO₄ exhibit a broad band emission with a maximum at 576 nm, which is due to the 4f⁶5d→4f⁷ transition. It was shown that the long-wavelength position of the Eu²⁺ emission in Li₂SrSiO₄ is caused by the large crystal-field splitting of the Eu²⁺ 4f⁶5d configuration and relatively high degree of covalency of the Eu-O bond. The stabilization of Eu²⁺ ions in Li₂SrSiO₄ during the synthesis process requires a strong reducing agent. Two phenomenological approaches to explain the low stability of Eu²⁺ in Li₂SrSiO₄ are also discussed.     

Absolute oscillator strengths of 5f-5f transitions of U4+ in ThBr4 and in hydrobromic acid solutions

Absolute oscillator strengths of 5f² transitions of U⁴⁺ in ThBr₄ and in hydrobromic acid solutions are found to be about 10^-4 which is two orders of magnitude larger than those for 4f-4f transitions (lanthanide series) and one order of magnitude larger than 5f³ ones (U³⁺). Applicability of Judd's theory to 5f² transitions is discussed with particular attention to the roles played by reduced matrix elements of odd rank tensor U^λ and by the proximity of the 6d configuration.     

VUV spectroscopic properties of Ce and Pr-doped AREP2O7-type alkali rare earth diphosphates (A=Na, K, Rb, Cs; RE=Y, Lu)

Spectroscopic properties of Ce³⁺ and Pr³⁺-doped AREP₂O₇-type alkali rare earth diphosphates (A=Na, K, Rb, Cs; RE=Y, Lu) have been investigated using VUV spectroscopy technique. Ce³⁺-doped samples show typical Ce³⁺ emission in the range of 325-450 nm. The strong host absorption band starting at around 160 nm indicates that the optical band gap of AREP₂O₇ hosts is at least 7.7 eV, and the host→Ce³⁺ energy transfer process is rather efficient. However, AREP₂O₇:Pr³⁺ samples show less efficient host→Pr³⁺ energy transfer. The direct Pr³⁺ 4f²→4f¹5d¹ excitation, which are 12160±640 cm⁻¹ higher respect to that of Ce³⁺, leads to strong 4f¹5d¹→4f² emission bands in the range of 230-325 nm but no obvious 4f²→4f² emission lines.     

Luminescence of La3F3[Si3O9]:Ce

The luminescence properties of Ce³⁺ in La₃F₃[Si₃O₉] are reported. Excitation and emission bands corresponding to 4f¹→5d¹ transitions of Ce³⁺ were identified. The center of gravity of the 5d states lies at remarkable high energy (43.2×10³ cm⁻¹) for Ce³⁺ in a silicate compound. This high value is attributed to the combined oxygen/fluoride coordination of the Ce³⁺ ion. Emission from the lowest 4f5d level to the ²F_5/2 and ²F_7/2 levels was found at 32.4×10³ and 30.4×10³ cm⁻¹. These results are compared with literature data on silicates and fluorides. From the values found for Ce³⁺, predictions are made for the positions of the 4f5d bands of Pr³⁺ and Er³⁺ in La₃F₃[Si₃O₉]. For both ions, it is concluded that in this host lattice emission is expected from high lying 4fⁿ energy levels.     

Optical and gain properties of series of crystals LiF-YF3-LuF3 doped with Ce and Yb ions

Here, we present first results of systematic studies of host cation variation impact on spectral-kinetic, photochemical and gain properties of Ce³⁺-doped LiYF₄ (YLF), LiLuF₄ (LLF) and LiY_1−xLu_xF₄ family crystals. 5d-4f luminescence decay of Ce³⁺ ions studies, together with pump-probe experiments, indicate that previously reported twice higher luminescence quantum yield in LLF compared with that of YLF crystals is provided by more efficient upper lasing level feeding due to recombination and higher color center destruction rate in LLF against YLF crystals. Namely, it is responsible for higher energetic characteristics of laser based on Ce³⁺:LLF crystals. Strong and wide pump-induced absorption band centered at 310 nm is observed in Ce³⁺:YLF. This band is shifted to blue and its intensity goes down with Lu content. We have evaluated free charges recombination rate, excited state absorption cross-section for Ce³⁺ ions and some other photodynamic processes related microparameters. Fitting results indicate that pump-induced color centers lifetime decreases with Lu-content in LiYF₄-LiLuF₄ mixture and it can be associated with more efficient color center bleaching by Ce³⁺ ions 5d-4f fluorescence.     

Intensity and bandwidth of multiphonon vibronic transitions of rare-earth ions in crystals

The theory of multiphonon vibronic coupling to electronic transitions is applied in analysing fluorescence spectra of Eu²⁺ in BaFCI, which consist of the 4f⁷(⁶P_7/2,) → 4f⁷(⁸S_7/2) and 4f⁶5d → 4f⁷ transitions, and the 4f⁷-4f⁶5d excitation spectrum of Ce³⁺ in YPO⁴. The 4f electrons are weakly coupled to lattice vibration modes so that only weak one- and two-phonon sidebands are observable in the 4f-4f optical transitions, whereas the electron-phonon coupling is significantly stronger for a 5d electron. Accordingly, intensive multiphonon vibronic transitions overwhelmingly dominate the 4f⁶5d → 4f⁷ spectrum. It is shown that the extended Judd-Ofelt theory for weak vibronic coupling in the framework of the M-process is equivalent to the Huang-Rhys theory for the δ-process. In the analysis of experimental data, contributions from local ligand modes and lattice acoustic modes are separated, and the coupling strength is evaluated, in terms of the Huang-Rhys parameter S, for the 4f-4f and 5d-4f vibronic transitions.     

Scintillation and anomalous emission in elpasolite Cs2LiLuCl6:Ce

The luminescence and scintillation properties of Cs₂LiLuCl₆:0.5%Ce³⁺ are presented. Special attention is devoted to a 9.4 ns fast emission at 275 nm that can only be excited via the highest cubic field 5d_e state of Ce. Contrary to Cs₃LuCl₆ and Cs₂LiYCl₆, where the same type of fast emission was observed, the emission in Cs₂LiLuCl₆ is still observed at room temperature. Assuming that the 5d_e state is located inside the host conduction band (CB), we propose that the emission originates from a mixed state at or just below the bottom of the CB and ends at the 4f ground state of Ce³⁺. To proof this model we studied the thermal quenching of the anomalous luminescence and performed X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A model for a temperature-activated energy transfer from the anomalous state to the lowest 5d_t excited state of Ce³⁺ explains most of the results. Besides the 275 nm emission, the material shows 5d_t-4f Ce³⁺ emission at 370 and 406 nm and 2 ns fast core-valence luminescence when excited with 16-22 eV photons. The scintillation properties of Cs₂LiLuCl₆:Ce are briefly discussed.     

Thermodynamics stability,electronic structures and spectroscopic properties of defects and Ce3+ ions in Y2O3

Thermodynamic properties, electronic structures and spectroscopic properties of defects and Ce³⁺ in Y₂O₃ are studied by using the hybrid density functional theory associated with multi-reference configuration interaction ab-initio calculations. Thermodynamic transition energy levels of the easily generated oxygen vacancies in the host are analyzed according to HSE06-calculated formation energies, which may be conducive to interpretations of the persistent luminescence (PersL) of Y₂O₃-based phosphors. Besides, the locations of impurity states (caused by V_O and Ce³⁺) in energy bands are obtained from derived density of states. Moreover, energies and oscillator strengths of 4f₁ → 5d₁₋₅ transitions of Ce³⁺ ions (at Y1 and Y2 sites) calculated from the CASSCF/CASPT2/RASSI−SO method agree reasonably well with experimental excitation spectra of Y₂O₃: Ce³⁺ phosphors, achieving the assignment of excitation spectra. The presented calculations can be applied to identify luminescent centers in Ce³⁺-doped phosphors and reveals possible native defects and their roles in the PersL of phosphors.     

Effect of Ce codoping on Er-doped bismuth-germanate glass and fiber under 980 nm excitation

Er³⁺/Ce³⁺ codoped bismuth-germanate glasses with the composition of Bi₂O₃-GeO₂-Ga₂O₃-Na₂O were prepared by the conventional melt-quenching method. The absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, upconversion emission and lifetimes of Er³⁺ ions were measured, and the effects of Ce³⁺-doping on the spectroscopic properties of 1.53 μm band fluorescence of Er³⁺ ion were investigated based on the analysis of energy transfer between Er³⁺ and Ce³⁺ ions. The results indicate that the 1.53 μm band fluorescence intensity can be improved evidently with the Ce³⁺-doped concentration under the excitation of 980 nm. Meanwhile, the theoretical simulation based on the population rate equation and light power propagation equation indicates that the C + L band signal gain can also be improved dramatically by introducing Ce³⁺ ions into the Er³⁺-doped bismuth-germanate glass fiber. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce Ce³⁺ ions when Er³⁺-doped bismuth-germanate glass with low phonon energy is applied to the 1.53 μm band broad Er³⁺-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA).     

Formation of a stable bivalent state of Yb ions in Na4Y6F22:Ce3+, Yb3+ crystal under intense UV irradiation

The evolution dynamics of absorption spectra induced in samples of Na₄Y₆F₂₂:Ce³⁺, Yb³⁺ crystal by radiation resonant with 4f-5d transitions of Ce³⁺ ions was studied and analyzed. It was found that at least two types of color centers with different life times are induced in the studied crystal. It is established that the group of absorption bands in the UV spectral range that demonstrate long-term stability after excitation is caused by the 4f ¹³–4f ¹²5d transitions of bivalent ytterbium ions. The sequence of processes that lead to the reduction of ytterbium ions from the trivalent to the bivalent state is proposed.     

Sc2O3:Ce nanocrystals: Fluorescence and its dependence on the surrounding gas pressure

The fluorescence spectra of nanocrystalline powder samples of Sc₂O₃:Ce³⁺ prepared by the sol-gel process were studied. The strong shift of the fluorescence spectra with the excitation wavelength was observed. The effect of the surrounding gaseous medium on 4f⁰5d¹→4f¹ fluorescence of Ce³⁺ ions in nanoparticles, discovered earlier in YAG:Ce³⁺, was also observed and studied in Sc₂O₃:Ce³⁺. The fluorescence intensity and the excitation power dependence of fluorescence dramatically depend on the pressure of the gaseous media.     

Ce and Pr5d-energy levels in the (pseudo) perovskites KMgF3 and NaMgF3

The location of the 5d-energy levels of Ce³⁺ and Pr³⁺ in the cubic perovskite KMgF₃ and in the distorted perovskite NaMgF₃ was determined from spectroscopic studies in the vacuum ultraviolet. It is established that Ce³⁺ and Pr³⁺ ions both occupy the same site in each host: K⁺ sites for KMgF₃ and Na⁺ sites for NaMgF₃. The small crystal field splitting and the small value of the centroid shift of the 4fⁿ⁻¹5d-configuration yield a relatively high energy for the lowest 5d state of both Ce³⁺ and Pr³⁺. The lowest 5d state of Pr³⁺ in both hosts is found at energy higher than the 4f² state, enabling the photon cascade emission to occur.     

Stmmry talk on evaluation and theory

Abstract

Single crystal samples of Ce³⁺-doped fluorides CaNaYF₆ and BaMgF₄ have been grown in a reducing atmosphere, with the intent of studying the effects of symmetry and ligand coordination on the dopant energy levels. The optical absorption spectra of Ce³⁺ in these crystals consist, at most, of five overlapping bands. The luminescence is also a broad band due to strong electron—phonon interaction in the 5d excited state. The energies of the lowest absorption band and the luminescence band are shifted to low energy compared to those in LiCaAlF₆ and LiYF₄. This trend may be explained by lowering symmetry of the anion-coordinate polyhedra of Ce³⁺ in these crystals.