Pulsed EPR spectroscopy of Gd3+ centers in Ca1−x R x F2+x (R=La, Y) mixed crystals

A study of Gd³⁺ centers in Ca_1?x R _x F_2+x (R=La, Y) crystals using pulsed EPR spectroscopy is presented. The echo-induced EPR (ESE-EPR) spectrum shows, besides the signal of slightly perturbed cubic Gd³⁺ centers, a broad signal at g≈2 due to Gd³⁺ centers at low symmetry sites. To describe the effects of R³⁺ ions on the EPR Gd³⁺, a model, including cubic and linear R³⁺?2F _i ^? centers, is developed. Its predictions are compared with the experimental results. The composition dependence of the EPR signal due to slightly perturbed cubic Gd³⁺ centers in mixed Ca_1?x R _x F_2+x crystals is explained taking into account the different clustering tendency in La and Y crystals. Moreover, the formation of mixed clusters involving R³⁺ and Gd³⁺ ions is proposed for both series of samples. A greater clustering trend is found in the Y crystals than in the La ones. Gd³⁺ ions are found to be a “non innocent” paramagnetic probe for structural studies in these mixed crystals.     

Defect clustering in double doped fluorite crystals with Lu and Gd

Abstract

Solid solutions Ca¹ x-^yLu^xGd^y F_2+x+y for 10^?4 ≤ x ≤ 2 × 10^?2 and y=0.0001 have been studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and ionic thermal currents (ITC). It has been found that the ITC spectrum from 77 to 420 K is very weak and the main peak is attributed to the relaxation of both Lu³⁺-F^? _x and Gd³⁺F^? _i nn dipoles. No polarizable clusters are present in the temperature range explored here. The EPR spectra show the presence of Gd³⁺ tetragonal and cubic centers due to the local and non local compensation, respectively. The continuous decrease in the molar fraction of Gd³⁺ tetragonal centers together with the low concentration of Lu nn dipoles is an evidence of the existence at these low and intermediate concentrations of large clusters such as the cubo-octahedral hexamer which has been proposed for CaF₂ crystals very highly doped with small trivalent cations.     

Electrical properties of heavily doped fluorite-structured BaF2:RF3 (R=La, Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb, Y, Sc) single crystals

The superionic conductivity and dielectric response of heavily doped fluorite-structured Ba_1−xR_xF_2+x (R=La, Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb, Y, Sc; x=0.005–0.45) crystals are reported. The highest ionic conductivity is found for R=Sc and x=0.1. Upon ScF₃ doping, small Sc³⁺ ions rearrange their surroundings, create excessive fluoride interstitial ions and bring about a high ionic conductivity. For each dopant, the concentration dependence of the ionic conductivity is non-linear. A monotonous concentration dependence of the ionic conductivity is found only for La³⁺ doping. Upon doping with Nd³⁺, Gd³⁺, Tb³⁺, Y³⁺ and Sc³⁺ ions, a conductivity maximum is observed at x=0.1–0.2. Upon Pr³⁺ doping, this maximum is split. The influence of defect clustering on the concentration dependence of the conductivity is discussed. Paper presented at the 6th Euroconference on Solid State Ionics, Cetraro, Calabria, Italy, Sept. 12–19, 1999.     

Observation of defect clustering in Gd-doped calcium fluoride

Abstract

Solid solutions Ca_1-xGd_xF_2+x for 3 × 10^?7≤ x ≤10^?1 have been studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and ionic thermal currents (ITC). The EPR experiments show the presence of two single-ion sites a cubic and a tetragonal Gd³⁺ center which co-exist with comparable abundances for intermediate impurity concentrations. The cubic center predominates at very low and high concentrations. Seven different relaxation processes have been identified from the ITC spectra and the variation of their intensity vs. x was measured. The absolute concentrations of the cubic and nn Gd³⁺ dipoles were calculated. The scavenging of interstitial fluorines by the neutral clusters explains both the abundance of cubic sites at high concentration and the variety of orientable clusters detected by ITC.     

EPR of Yb3+ ions in Ba1−xLaxF2+x mixed crystals

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of impurity Yb³⁺ ions (about 0.1 at.%) in mixed crystals BaF₂(1-x) plus LaF₃(x) have been investigated for different values of the concentrationx at a frequency of about 9.5 GHz by both continuous-wave (CW) EPR and electron spin echo methods. A spectrum of trigonal symmetry with a complex hyperfine structure is observed in “pure” BaF₂:Yb³⁺ (x=0). Upon admixture of small amounts of LaF₃ (x=0.001), additional EPR lines arise with intensities increasing with the increase ofx up to 0.005. These lines are attributed to trigonal centers including two rare-earth ions and two compensating fluorine ions. A further increase ofx results in a decrease of the total EPR spectrum intensity, and atx≥0.05 the CW resonance becomes practically unobservable. This may be due to the formation of rare-earth ion clusters with paramagnetic Yb³⁺ ions occurring in domains with a disordered structure of surroundings resulting in very broad EPR lines, which cannot be registered by CW EPR. Indeed, very broad (not less than 1 KG) EPR lines were observed by the electron spin echo method for concentrationsx<-0.02.     

89Y NMR probe of Zn induced local magnetism in YBa2(Cu1-yZny) 3O6+x

We present detailed data and analysis of the effects of Zn substitution on the planar Cu site in YBa₂Cu₃O_6+x (YBCO_6+x) as evidenced from our ⁸⁹Y NMR measurements on oriented powders. For x << 1x \ll 1 we find additional NMR lines which are associated with the Zn substitution. From our data on the intensities and temperature dependence of the shift, width, and spin-lattice relaxation rate of these resonances, we conclude that the spinless Zn 3d ¹⁰ state induces local moments on the near-neighbour (nn) Cu atoms. Additionally, we conjecture that the local moments actually extend to the farther Cu atoms with the magnetization alternating in sign at subsequent nn sites. We show that this analysis is compatible with ESR data taken on dilute Gd doped (on the Y site) and on neutron scattering data reported recently on Zn substituted YBCO_{6 + x}. For optimally doped compounds ⁸⁹Y nn resonances are not detected, but a large T-dependent contribution to the ⁸⁹Y NMR linewidth is evidenced and is also attributed to the occurence of a weak induced local moment near the Zn. These results are compatible with macroscopic magnetic measurements performed on YBCO_{6 + x} samples prepared specifically in order to minimize the content of impurity phases. We find significant differences between the present results on the underdoped YBCO_{6 + x} samples and ²⁷Al NMR data taken on Al³⁺ substituted on the Cu site in optimally doped La₂CuO₄. Further experimental work is needed to clarify the detailed evolution of the impurity induced magnetism with hole content in the cuprates.     

EPR study of Dy 3 + ions in DyBa 2 Cu 3 O 6 + x

Concentrated polycrystalline DyBa₂Cu₃O_6+x compounds are studied by X-band EPR spectroscopy. A broad resonance line due to the highly anisotropic EPR spectrum of Dy³⁺ ions is identified on several specimens at low temperatures. Powder simulation of the EPR spectra complies with the ground Kramers doublet predicted by crystal field analysis of Dy³⁺ ions. Calculations of the second and fourth moments of the resonance lines due to the dipole-dipole interactions of Dy³⁺ indicate the presence of substantial exchange narrowing of the dipolar-broadened EPR linewidth. Received 3 June 2001     

Photoluminescence properties of Y0.75-xGdxAl0.10BO3:Eu3+0.10, 0.05R3+ (R= Sc, Bi) (0.00≤x≤0.45)

Y$_{0.75 - x}$Gd_xAl_0.10BO$₃:Eu$^{3+}_0.10, 0.05R³⁺ ($R$=Sc, Bi) ($0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.45$) powder samples are prepared by solid-state reaction and their luminescence properties are investigated. With the replacement of Y³⁺$ ions by Sc³⁺$ (or Bi³⁺)$ and Gd³⁺$ ions in (Y,Al)BO$₃:Eu, the intensities of emission at 254 and 147~nm are remarkably improved, because Sc³⁺$ ions can absorb UV light and transfer the energy to Eu³⁺$ ions efficiently. Moreover, Gd³⁺$ and Bi$^{3 + }$ ions act as an intermediate ``bridge' between the sensitizer and the activator (Eu³⁺)$ in energy transfer to produce light in the (Y, Gd)BO$₃:Bi³⁺$, Eu³⁺$ system more effectively. After doping an appropriate concentration of Gd³⁺$ into Y$_{0.50}$Gd$_{0.25}$Al_0.10BO$₃:Eu³⁺_{0.01}$, Bi$^{3+}_{0.05}$, the emission intensity reaches its maximum, which is nearly 110{\%} compared with the red commercial phosphor (Y,Gd)BO$₃:Eu and better chromaticity coordinates (0.650, 0.350) are obtained.     

Pecularities of EPR spectra of the Gd impurity in the Sn-Rich Pb1−x Sn x Te(Gd) solid solutions

An electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experimental study of crystalline and powder p-Pb_1?x?y Sn _y Gd _y Te samples for various matrix compositionx and Gd contenty has been carried out. The study reveals that grinding the crystals into powder as well as their low-temperature annealing turns Gd impurity ions from the EPR-silent Gd²⁺ state to the EPR-active Gd³⁺ state, whereas high-temperature annealing in vacuum quenches EPR signals from Gd³⁺ ions. The experimental results are interpreted in terms of a model assuming that the trivalent charge state of the Gd impurity ions in lead and tin tellurides is a component part of the “substituting Gd impurity-Te vacancy” complex.     

EPR of Gd3+ in single crystal colquiriite and analysis of the spin Hamiltonian tensorsB 4 andB 6

In single crystal colquiriite LiCaAlF₆ doped with Gd³⁺ ions two EPR spectra of the Gd³⁺ ions with the Laue site-symmetry groups C_i and C_3i were observed. The spectrum angular dependence for trigonal Gd³⁺ centre was investigated in detail and corresponding spin Hamiltonian parameters were fitted. From analysis of the spin Hamiltonian tensorsB ₄ andB ₆ it was established that Gd³⁺ with the Laue group C_3i substitutes at Ca²⁺ site with the excess charge compensation by an ion located along the threefold axis from this site. The transformation formulas for a sixth-rank irreducible Hermitian tensor under coordinate rotation are tabulated in an explicit form. By using the EPR data for Gd³⁺ substituted in a variety of host crystals, the fourth-rank and sixth-rank tensors of Gd³⁺ spin Hamiltonians were tabulated and correlated with structures of the coordination polyhedra at substitution sites. The results suppose a predominance of quadratic crystal field contributions into the spin Hamiltonian tensorB ₄ of Gd³⁺.     

Identification of the La6F37 cubooctahedral clusters in mixed crystals (BaF2)1 ? x(LaF3)x by the electron paramagnetic resonance method

The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of mixed crystals (BaF₂)_{1 − x} (LaF₃) _x (x = 0, 0.001, 0.002, 0.005, 0.010, 0.020) doped with Ce³⁺ ions (0.1%) are investigated at a frequency v ≈ 9.5 GHz in magnetic fields up to 1.45 T at temperatures T = 10 and 15 K. The EPR spectrum of “pure” barium fluoride BaF₂ (x = 0) is characterized by a single Ce³⁺-F⁻ center with tetragonal symmetry (i.e., the O center with g _‖ = 2.601 and g _⊥ = 1.555). For a lanthanum trifluoride concentration x ≠ 0, the spectrum exhibits new lines due to the presence of the clusters containing Ce³⁺ and La³⁺ ions. The intensity of EPR signals from the O centers decreases rapidly as the lanthanum trifluoride concentration x increases. The lines attributed to a paramagnetic center with tetragonal symmetry and strongly anisotropic g factors (i.e., the K center with g _‖ = 0.725 and g _⊥ = 2.52) are separated in the complex EPR spectrum with the use of the angular dependence of the EPR signal intensity measured for the samples with x ≥ 0.002. This center is identified as a cubooctahedral cluster of the La₆F₃₇ type in which one of the La³⁺ ions is replaced by the Ce³⁺ ion. Original Russian Text ? L.K. Aminov, I.N. Kurkin, S.P. Kurzin, I.A. Gromov, G.V. Mamin, R.M. Rakhmatullin, 2007, published in Fizika Tverdogo Tela, 2007, Vol. 49, No. 11, pp. 1990–1993.     

Luminescence properties of NaGd(PO3)4:Eu3+ and energy transfer from Gd3+ to Eu3+

The luminescence properties of polyphosphates NaEu _x Gd_(1?x)(PO₃)₄ (x = 0–1.00) and the energy transfer from Gd³⁺ to Eu³⁺ were studied. In undoped NaGd(PO₃)₄ sample, the photon cascade emission of Gd³⁺ was observed under ⁸S_7/2 → ⁶G_J excitation (201 nm) in which the emission of a red photon due to ⁶G_J → ⁶P_J transition is followed by an ultraviolet photon emission due to ⁶P_J → ⁸S_7/2 transition. When part of Gd³⁺ ions in the host NaGd(PO₃)₄ were substituted by Eu³⁺ ions, the NaGd(PO₃)₄:Eu³⁺ sample showed intensive red emission under 172-nm vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) excitation which is suitable for mercury-free fluorescent lamps and plasma display panel applications. Based on the VUV–visible spectroscopic characteristics and the luminescence decay properties of NaGd(PO₃)₄:Eu³⁺, it was found that the quantum cutting by a two-step energy transfer from Gd³⁺ to Eu³⁺ can improve the red emission of Eu³⁺ ions under VUV excitation but only a part of the excitation energy in the excited ⁶P_J states within Gd³⁺ ions can be transferred to Eu³⁺ ions for its red emission, and the nonradiative energy transfer efficiencies from the excited ⁶P_J states within Gd³⁺ to Eu³⁺ were calculated.     

Effects of the progressive substitution of La3+ by Gd3+ in the magnetic and transport properties of La2/3Ca1/3MnO3

A systematic study of the magnetic and transport properties of the system (La_1−xGd_x)_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃ (0⩽x⩽1) is presented in this article. Through this series, a great crystallographic distortion is achieved but keeping constant the electronic density. At low Gd³⁺ content, these ions behaves in a paramagnetic state following a Brillouin function. Low-temperature ferromagnetism remains unchanged. However, for the samples with large Gd³⁺ content a complex magnetic behavior arises from several competing interaction as super-exchange, double-exchange and also the interaction between Gd and Mn ions. Resistivity and thermopower follow a progressive increase as Gd³⁺ content does, but the polaron energy in the paramagnetic range remains independent of all these changes. Thermopower infinite value is also determined and analyzed.     

Mössbauer studies of mixed and substituted garnets

We report here our⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer studies on the mixed and substituted iron garnets. Magnetisation studies on substituted SmIG system {Sm_3?x Ca_x} [Sn_x Fe_2?x](Fe₃)0₁₂ (0.2≤x≤1.8) show that the T_c decreases as x increases. We attribute this to the reduced strength of a-d interaction as a result of dilution of a-site. While the Mössbauer spectra seem to reflect this, an interesting feature is the unresolved hyperfine spectrum seen at 80K for x=1.0, even though the transition temperature (T_c) is 285K. For this concentration, varying the rare earth ion from Sm to Er, results in very similar spectra. We speculate spin glass behaviour for x=1.0. In mixed and substituted garnet system {Gd_2.5R_0.2Ca_0.3} [Sn_0.3Fe_1.7](Fe₃)0₁₂ (R=Y, Sm, Eu, Ho and Er), we observe well resolved spectra with no change in the hyperfine field with substitution of rare earth. This is consistant with the dominance of a-d interaction in these systems.     

Electron spin resonance of Nd3+ and Gd3+ in AB2 cubic intermetallic compounds

The ESR of Nd³⁺ and Gd³⁺ in the eight intermetallic compounds AB₂ (A = Y, La, Ce, Lu; B = Ir, Rh) is reported. The hyperfine constants and the exchange parameters are extracted.     

Effects of x and R3+ on the luminescent properties of Eu3+ in nanocrystalline YVxP1-xO4:Eu3+ and RVO4:Eu3+ thin-film phosphors

Using inorganic oxides and salts instead of alkoxides as the main starting materials, we prepared nanocrystalline YV_xP_1-xO₄:Eu³⁺ and RVO₄:Eu³⁺ (0x1; R=Y,La,Gd) thin-film phosphors by the Pechini sol–gel dip-coating process. The resulting films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and photoluminescence excitation and emission spectra as well as luminescence decay. The results of XRD showed that a solid solution formed in the YV_xP_1-xO₄:Eu³⁺ film series from x=0 to x=1 with zircon structure. The same structure also held for the GdVO₄:Eu³⁺ film, but the LaVO₄:Eu³⁺ film crystallized with a different structure, monazite. AFM and SEM studies revealed that the phosphor films consisted of spherical particles ranging from 90 to 400 nm depending on the film compositions. With the increase of x values in YV_xP_1-xO₄:Eu³⁺ films, the integrated emission intensity and the red (⁵D₀–⁷F₂)-to-orange (⁵D₀–⁷F₁) intensity ratio of Eu³⁺ increase due to the increased energy-transfer probability from VO₄^3- to Eu³⁺ and the increased polarizability of the surrounding oxygen ions, respectively. The x values also have an influence on the decay behavior of Eu³⁺. The YVO₄:Eu³⁺ and GdVO₄:Eu³⁺ films showed very similar luminescence properties due to their same crystal structures. However, the LaVO₄:Eu³⁺ film exhibited a much different emission property from those of the YVO₄:Eu³⁺ and GdVO₄:Eu³⁺ films due to the structural effects. PACS 73.63.Bd; 78.55.Hx; 78.66.Nk; 81.15.Lm; 81.20.Fw     

Effects of Gd<Superscript>3+</Superscript> doping on structural and dielectric properties of PZT (Zr:Ti = 52:48) piezoceramics

The purpose of this research is to study the effect of doping Gd into Pb(Zr_0.52Ti_0.48)O₃ ceramics prepared by solid state reaction. X-ray diffraction patterns show that all PGZT samples are of tetragonal structure and the highest doping should be no more than 2 mole % Gd at which the unreacted oxides start to appear. The electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of PGZT's indicate that Gd³⁺ can enter both A site of the perovskite structure instead of only A site as widely believed. The ESR peaks resonance shift towards low fields as the concentration is higher, which is due to the change in crystal field experienced by Gd³⁺ ions. At x =0.001, 0.005 and 0.01 dopings, two sets of powder ESR signals arising from Gd³⁺ (4f⁷, spin 7/2) ions at A site. The first set shows some fine structure having strong absorption peaks centered at 76.26 mT (g = 8.550). The second is a seven-peak spectrum centered at 206.01 mT (g = 3.165), which belongs to the Gd³⁺ ions at B sites. Furthermore, the overlapped ESR strong absorption peaks from 309.17 mT to 314.49 mT (g = 2.2818-2.1087) belong to Gd³⁺ of unreacted Gd₂O₃. The local environments of Gd³⁺ ions were verified from the calculated ESR spectra using appropriate spin Hamiltonian parameter, i.e. gyromagnetic tensor g, zero-field splitting D and hyperfine tensor A.     

Luminescent properties of R2(MoO4)3:Eu (R=La, Y, Gd) phosphors prepared by sol-gel process

A series of red phosphors R_0.8Eu_1.2(MoO₄)₃ (R=La, Y, and Gd) have been synthesized by sol-gel method. The crystallization processes of the phosphor precursors were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), and the properties of these resulting phosphors have also been characterized by photoluminescence (PL) spectra and reflectance spectra. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) was also used to characterize the shape and the size of the samples. The results of TG-DTA and XRD indicated that all of the R_0.8Eu_1.2(MoO₄)₃ (R=La, Y, and Gd) phosphors crystallized completely at 650 °C. Y_0.8Eu_1.2(MoO₄)₃ and Gd_0.8Eu_1.2(MoO₄)₃ have two structures, monoclinic and orthorhombic, while La_0.8Eu_1.2(MoO₄)₃ only adopts monoclinic structure. The luminescent properties of phosphors R_0.8Eu_1.2(MoO₄)₃ (R=La, Y, and Gd) are dependent on their structures to some extent. The orthorhombic Y_0.8Eu_1.2(MoO₄)₃ and Gd_0.8Eu_1.2(MoO₄)₃ phosphors show very similar luminescent properties, which differ from those of phosphors with monoclinic structure. For all of R_0.8Eu_1.2(MoO₄)₃ (R=La, Y, and Gd) phosphors, intense red emission is obtained by exciting at ∼394 and ∼465 nm which are owing to the sharp ⁷F₀→⁵L₆ and ⁷F₀→⁵D₂ lines of Eu³⁺. Two strongest lines at 394 and 465 nm in excitation spectra of these phosphors match well with the two popular emissions from near-UV and blue GaN-based LEDs, so they could be used as red components for white light-emitting diodes.     

Growth and the luminescence properties of a lutetium gadolinium garnet doped with Ce3+ and Pr3+ ions

Crystals of lutetium gadolinium garnet solid solutions (Lu_{1 − x} Gd _x )Al₅O₁₂ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.6) doped with Ce³⁺ and Pr³⁺ ions have been prepared by the horizontal directional crystallization method, and their optical and luminescence properties have been investigated. It has been established that the introduction of gadolinium into the lutetium garnet lattice leads to a decrease in the antisite luminescence (Lu_Al centers) in the UV spectral range and to sensitization of the Ce³⁺ ion luminescence. By contrast, the presence of gadolinium results in the quenching of the Pr³⁺ luminescence due to the nonradiative excitation transfer from Pr³⁺ ions to Gd³⁺ ions.     

EPR study of exchange interactions in the nonmagnetic Kondo system La1−x CexCu6

The EPR of paramagnetic impurities Gd³⁺ and Mn²⁺ was studied in nonmagnetic Kondo system La_1−x Ce_xCu₆ containing in the 1.6–200 K range. The exchange interaction parameters of gadolinium and manganese ions with conduction electrons, of cerium ions with conduction electrons and with one another, the Kondo temperature of cerium ions, and the temperature behavior of cerium-ion spin-fluctuation rate have been determined. A pseudogap in the density of states at the Fermi level has been detected in the CeCu₆ regular system, which is apparently due to s-f hybridization. This pseudogap can be destroyed by introducing an aluminum impurity, which induces strong conduction-electron scattering. It was also found that RKKY interaction among manganese ions in CeCu_6−y Mn_y is considerably stronger than it is in LaCu_6−y Mn_y, which implies enhancement of nonlocal spin susceptibility due to an f band contribution to conduction-electron states. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 593–599 (April 1998)