Spin-selective electron tunneling from excited FA centers to F+ centers in CaO

From pulsed phosphorescence microwave double resonance experiments it is established that electron tunneling between F_A and F⁺ centers in CaO occurs from F_A centers in the excited ³A₁ state. Only the radiative sub-levels within this ³A₁ state act as precursor states in the electron transfer process. The tunneling rate at 1.2 K is determined to be 1.5±0.2s^-1.     

The F+ center in reactor-irradiated aluminum oxide

A point-ion calculation has been performed for the F⁺ center in α-Al₂O₃ (one electron in an O^2? vacancy). Optical transitions are predicted at 2·26, 3·39 and 5·15 eV. Contact hyperfine interactions with the two nearest pairs of Al³⁺ ions are calculated to be 151 and 39 G. Single crystals of α-Al₂O₃ were reactor-irradiated up to doses of 10²⁰ fast neutrons per cm², and studied by electron spin resonance (ESR). A broad ESR spectrum with 13 resolved components at g=2·0029±0·0005 was interpreted as the interaction of an unpaired electron with two pairs of Al³⁺ nuclei with hyperfine constants of 49·2 and 13·5 G. These values are in the same ratio as the values calculated for the F⁺ center, to which this ESR spectrum is attributed. The discrepancy of a factor of three is typical of point-ion calculations. The optical absorption spectrum for heavily-irradiated samples is not available for comparison with calculated transition energies.     

Radiation-induced electrical and optical processes in materials based on Al2O3

The irradiation of dielectrics induces electric charging of microscopic regions in the bulk, which is associated with concentration inhomogeneities in the system of traps and the differences in characteristic diffusion lengths of free electrons and holes that are produced in ion tracks and collision cascades. Experimental data on radiation-induced luminescence (RIL) give evidence of the existence of three states of oxygen vacancies in Al₂O₃: an optically inactive (electrically neutral) vacancy, its excited state (known as F ⁺ center), and a negatively charged vacancy (F center). The formation of negatively charged regions under irradiation increases the intensity of the 415-nm band of F centers of RIL of Al₂O₃ single crystals. In Al₂O₃:Cr³⁺ ceramics, a radiation-induced negative charging of grain boundaries with respect to the bulk of grains takes place, which manifests itself as an increase in the intensity of the 690-nm band of RIL of Cr³⁺ ions, whereas the intensity of this band in Al₂O₃:Cr³⁺ single crystals remains unchanged. Using data on RIL, the local-charge density in grains of Al₂O₃:Cr³⁺ ceramics and the field produced by this charge are estimated.     

Transversely pumped laser using F 3 + and F2 mixed color centers in a LiF crystal at room temperature

A stable laser with F₃⁺ and F₂ mixed color centers in LiF crystal is constructed using a transversely pumped cavity at room temperature. The mixed color center laser is pumped with a nitrogen-laser-pumped dye laser. A pulse output of the laser is 0.23 mJ. The pulse widths of the F₃⁺ and F₂ color center lasers are about 12 and 8.5 ns, respectively. The optical–optical conversion efficiency is about 5.0%. The divergence of the F₃⁺ color center laser beam is about 2.2 mrad and that of the F₂ color center laser beam about 3.5 mrad. The polarization of the mixed color center laser is about 0.97. The output of the F₃⁺ color center laser extends from 515 to 575 nm and peaks at 540 nm, while that of the F₂ color center laser extends from 633 to 705 nm and peaks at 667 nm.     

F2+ defect based model for tunable laser activity and interaction of atomic halogens (F,Cl and Br) at the low coordinated surfaces of LiH: ab initio calculations

The twofold potential of F₂⁺ color center at the low coordinated surfaces of LiH in providing tunable laser activity and adsorption properties for atomic halogens is examined using ab initio calculations. Based on Stokes shifts of the examined clusters, the F₂⁺ laser activity was very weak, but increases significantly as the coordination number decreases from 5 (flat) to 4 (edge) to 3 (H⁻ corner). The corner site is the least probable for relaxed excited state orientational destruction of F₂⁺. The exciton (energy) transfer takes place from the corner to the flat or edge sites. The Glasner–Tompkins relation is generalized to include the low coordinated surfaces of LiH. The F⁺₂ color center change the nature of halogen–surface interaction from physical adsorption to chemical adsorption. The halogen–surface interactions were monotonically increasing functions of the electronegativity of the halogen and the amount of charge transferred between the halogen and the surface. The “covalent spin pairing” mechanism play the dominant role in the course of adsorbate–substrate interactions.     

A-site and B-site substitutions and the emission properties of Eu3+ ions in ABO3 –type cubic perovskite: A case study of BaZrO3

The emission properties of the rare earth (RE) elements have been found to be sensitive to the local lattice environment around them, and could be employed for probing the local lattice environment. Because each constituent ion of a material should have its own particular structural environment, the emission profiles in RE elements depend strongly on the doping sites of RE elements inside the host crystals. We investigated the emission properties of the Eu³⁺ ion doped BaZrO₃ (BaZrO₃:Eu) with doping site dependence (A-site vs. B-site), as well as ambient dependence in the post-annealing process. The site-selective doping was identified from the Rietveld refinement analysis on the XRD patterns of our BaZrO₃:Eu samples. Photoluminescence and photoluminescence excitation measurements showed that the emission properties of the samples with the Eu³⁺ ions substituted at Zr sites revealed much greater emission properties than those at the Ba sites. This behavior was found to accord with the change in intensity ratio of ⁵D₀ → ⁷F_0,2 to ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₁ in Eu ions, which should be a measure of the local lattice asymmetry around the Eu ions. We also found that with post-annealing in H₂ atmosphere, the emission intensities of the Eu ions increased significantly, while with post-annealing in O₂ atmosphere, they were suppressed. Our findings indicated that the cation/oxygen vacancies could change the local lattice environment around the Eu ions, as well as the valence states of Eu ions, depending on the doping site in the cubic perovskite.     

Sinteractivity, proton conductivity and chemical stability of BaZr0.7In0.3O3-δ for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs)

In³⁺ was used as dopant for BaZrO₃ proton conductor and 30 at%-doped BaZrO₃ samples (BaZr_0.7In_0.3O_3-δ, BZI) were prepared as electrolyte materials for proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The BZI material showed a much improved sinteractivity compared with the conventional Y-doped BaZrO₃. The BZI pellets reached almost full density after sintering at 1600 °C for 10 h, whereas the Y-doped BaZrO₃ samples still remained porous under the same sintering conditions. The conductivity measurements indicated that BZI pellets showed smaller bulk but improved grain boundary proton conductivity, when compared with Y-doped BaZrO₃ samples. A total proton conductivity of 1.7 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ was obtained for the BZI sample at 700 °C in wet 10% H₂ atmosphere. The BZI electrolyte material also showed adequate chemical stability against CO₂ and H₂O, which is promising for application in fuel cells.     

FA(Ga+,In+,Tl+) tunable laser activity and interaction of halogen atoms (F,Cl,Br,I,At) at the (001) surface of KCl crystal: ab initio calculations

An attempt has been made to examine F_A(Ga⁺,In⁺,Tl⁺) tunable laser activity and adsorptivity of halogen atoms (F,Cl,Br,I,At) at the (0 0 1) surface of KCl crystal using an embedded cluster model, CIS and density functional theory calculations with effective core potentials. The ion clusters were embedded in a simulated Coulomb field that closely approximates the Madelung field at the host surface. The nearest neighbor ions to the defect site were then allowed to relax to equilibrium. Based on the calculated strength of electron–phonon coupling and Stokes-shifted optical transition bands, The F_A(Tl⁺) center was found to be the most laser active in agreement with the experimental observation that the optical emissions of F_A(In⁺) and F_A(Ga⁺) centers were strongly quenched. The disappearance of the anisotropy and np splitting observed in the absorption of F_A(Ga⁺,In⁺,Tl⁺) centers were monotonically increasing functions of the size of the impurity cation. The F_A(Ga⁺,In⁺,Tl⁺) defect formation energies followed the order F_A(Ga⁺)>F_A(In⁺)>F_A(Tl⁺). The Glasner–Tompkins empirical relationship between the principal optical absorption of F centers in solids and the fundamental absorption of the host crystal was generalized to include the positive ion species. As far as the adsorptivity of the halogen atoms is concerned, the F and F_A(In⁺,Tl⁺) centers were found to change the nature of adsorption from physical adsorption to chemical adsorption. The adsorption energies were monotonically increasing functions of the electronegativity of the halogen and the amount of charge transferred from the defect-free surface. The calculated adsorption energies were explainable in terms of the electron affinity, the effective nuclear charge and the electrostatic potentials at the surface. The spin pairing mechanism played the dominant role in the course of adsorbate–substrate interactions and the KCl defect-free surface can be made semiconducting by F or F_A(In⁺,Tl⁺) surface imperfections.     

An Analysis of the Trigonal Center Structure of Yb3+ Ion in CsCaF3

The crystal field parameters determined from interpretation of optical spectra are used to analyze distortions of a crystal lattice in the vicinity of an impurity ion and vacancy at a Cs⁺ site compensating the excess positive charge in the trigonal centers of Yb³⁺ ions in CsCaF₃ crystal. Interactions of the impurity ion with the nearest neighbors (an octahedron of F^? ions) and the next nearest neighbors (a cube of Cs⁺ ions) are considered within the superposition model. It is established that, at formation of the trigonal center, three F^? ions of the nearest octahedron, placed symmetrically along the threefold axis on the side of the vacancy, move away from the impurity ion a little and significantly deviate from this axis. The second triangle of F^? ions, on the contrary, comes nearer to the impurity ion and nestles on the axis of the center a little. The three Cs⁺ ions, the second neighbors on the side of the vacancy, slightly come nearer to Yb³⁺ ion and considerably nestle on the center axis. The second triangle of Cs⁺ ions, from the opposite side of vacancy, also comes nearer to the paramagnetic ion and also nestles on the center axis a little. The Cs⁺ ion, lying on the center axis, comes considerably nearer to the impurity ion.     

Optical absorption and photoluminescence studies of Eu-doped phosphate and fluorophosphate glasses

Phosphate (P₂O₅+K₂O+BaO+Al₂O₃+Eu₂O₃) and fluorophosphate (P₂O₅+K₂O+BaO+BaF₂+Al₂O₃+Eu₂O₃) glasses with different Eu³⁺ ion concentrations have been prepared and characterized through optical absorption, photoluminescence and decay times. An intense red luminescence is observed from the ⁵D₀ emitting level of Eu³⁺ ions in these glasses. The relative luminescence intensity ratio of ⁵D₀→⁷F₂→⁵D₀→⁷F₁ transitions has been evaluated to estimate the local site symmetry around the Eu³⁺ ions. The emission spectra of these glasses show a complete removal of degeneracy for the ⁵D₀→⁷F₁ and ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transitions. Second and fourth rank crystal-field (CF) parameters have been calculated together with the CF strength parameter by assuming the C_2v symmetry for the Eu³⁺ ions in both the phosphate and fluorophosphate glasses. Judd-Ofelt parameters have been evaluated from the luminescence intensity ratios of ⁵D₀→⁷F_J (J=2, 4 and 6) to ⁵D₀→⁷F₁ transitions. These parameters have been used to derive radiative properties such as transition probabilities, branching ratios, radiative lifetimes and peak stimulated emission cross-sections for the ⁵D₀→⁷F_J transitions. Decay curves of the ⁵D₀ level of Eu³⁺ ions in these two Eu³⁺:glass systems have been measured by monitoring the ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition (611 nm) at room temperature. The experimental lifetime of the ⁵D₀ level in the title glasses is found to be higher than Eu³⁺-doped niobium phosphate glasses. The analysis indicates that the lifetime of the ⁵D₀ level is found to be less sensitive to the Eu³⁺ ion concentration and addition of BaF₂ has no significant effect on the optical properties of Eu³⁺-doped phosphate glasses.     

Luminescence of Mn ions in ordered and disordered LiAl5O8

The phosphorescence and excitation spectra of Mn ions in the ordered and disordered phases of LiAl₅O₈ have been measured. In both phases Mn²⁺ ions substitute for Al³⁺ ions in two different tetrahedral sites of the LiAl₅O₈ lattice. In both sites in the ordered phase, sharp zero-phonon transitions have been observed in the low temperature phosphorescence and excitation spectra - these transitions were considerably broadened in the disordered phase due to crystal field inhomogeneity in that phase. The deviation from neutrality caused by the Mn²⁺ ions in the ordered phase is largely compensated by Mn⁴⁺ ions occupying octahedral Al³⁺ sites. On disordering, a large proportion of Mn⁴⁺ is reduced to Mn²⁺, while the remainder takes up a site with a higher proportion of Li⁺ ions as next nearest neighbours. This leads to an increase in the ionicity of the Mn⁴⁺ site in the disordered phase and hence to a larger value of the Racah parameter B.     

LiF晶体F3+色心的实验研究

本文从实验上系统地研究了在不同条件下电子束辐照LiF晶体所形成的F₃⁺色心的光学特点。并且由荧光光谱分析了F₃⁺心和F₂心,的相对密度关系。实验表明,辐照温度对于色心的形成和密度的相对大小起着关键的作用。主要实验结果包括:1)在液氮温度下辐照,然后在暗处加热至室温可形成高密度的F₃⁺心,表现在发射光谱中F₃⁺心荧光占绝对优势。吸收光谱表明没有N心和R心。2)由动力学荧光谱可以看到低温辐照的样品在F₂⁺心衰变的同时,F₃⁺心密度迅速增加。而室温辐照的样品则是F₂心,与F₃⁺心的密度以近似相等的速率增加。3)详细观察了F₃⁺心530nm荧光激发带与F₂心670nm荧光激发带半宽度的变化和双峰结构。由此对M吸收区的发光特点作了解释。 关键词：     

Type I FA (Rb, Cs) and II FA (Li, Na) tunable laser activities and donor-acceptor properties of O and O at KCl (001) surface: first principle calculations

Type I F_A (Rb⁺, Cs⁺) and II F_A (Li⁺, Na⁺) tunable laser activities, adsorptivity and donor-acceptor properties of O and O⁻ adsorbates at the flat surface of KCl crystal were investigated using an embedded cluster model and ab initio methods of molecular electronic structure calculations. Ion clusters were embedded in a simulated Coulomb field that closely approximates the Madelung field of the host surface, and the nearest neighbor ions to the defect site were allowed to relax to equilibrium. Based on the calculated Stokes shifted optical transition bands, F_A tunable laser activities were found to be inversely proportional to the size of the dopant cation (Li⁺, Na⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺) relative to the host cation (K⁺). This relation was explained in terms of the axial perturbation of the impurity cation. The probability of orientational bleaching attributed to the RES saddle point ion configuration along the 〈110〉 axis was found to be inversely proportional to the size of the dopant cation, with activation energy barriers of ca. 0.44-3.34 eV. Surface relaxation energies of type II F_A centers were more important than those of type I F_A centers. In terms of defect formation energies, the products of type II F_A center imperfection were more stable than those of type I F_A. The difference between F or F_A band energies and exciton bands depended almost exclusively on the size of the positive ion species. As far as the adsorptivity of O and O⁻ is concerned, the results confirm that surface imperfection enhances the adsorption energies by ca. 4.38-16.37 eV. O and O⁻ penetrate through the defect-containing surface. The energy gap between the adsorbate and the defect containing surface and the donor-acceptor property of adsorbate play the dominant role in the course of adsorbate substrate interactions and the results were explained in terms of electrostatic potential curves and Mulliken population analysis.     

Spectral and generation properties of a new laser crystal (Cr<Superscript>3+</Superscript>,Li): Mg<Subscript>2</Subscript>SiO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

Based on the results of a comparative analysis of luminescence spectroscopy and EPR spectroscopy data, it was found for the first time that the wide-band luminescence of Cr³⁺ ions in a forsterite crystal is due to the Cr³⁺-V_Mg center or, in a crystal additionally doped with lithium, to a Cr³⁺-Li⁺ center. For the first time, tunable laser action was obtained with Cr³⁺-Li⁺ centers responsible for the wide-band luminescence.     

EPR of trivalent iron centers in a BaF2: Fe crystal

An orthorhombic paramagnetic Fe³⁺ ion center (concentration of iron ions is 0.1 at. %) was found using EPR in BaF₂: Fe crystals irradiated by x rays. The EPR spectra recorded in the Q range at a temperature T = 77 K exhibit both the fine structure typical of a center with effective spin S = 5/2 and a superhyperfine structure (SHFS) indicating the SHFS interaction of the electronic moment of the center with the nuclear magnetic moments of its six ligands (F^? ions). An analysis of the SHFS reveals that this center forms through the replacement of a Ba²⁺ cation by a Fe²⁺ cation, which transforms into a Fe³⁺ (⁶ A _1g ) cation under x-ray irradiation and shifts into a neutral position along the C₂ axis of the cubic coordination shell of the replaced host cation.     

Enhanced energy storage in polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) + BaZrO<Subscript>3</Subscript> electroactive nanocomposites

PVDF + BaZrO₃ electroactive nanocomposite thin film has been prepared by solution casting method. The structural analysis was carried out by using x-ray diffraction pattern and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Generally, the performance of dielectric capacitors toward higher energy density and higher operating temperatures has been drawing increased interest. In this regard, the present study was focussed on the fabrication and characterization of PVDF + BaZrO₃ electroactive nanocomposites in view of enhancing the energy density at elevated temperature. Cole-Cole plot is an agreement with multiple relaxation process in electroactive nanocomposites. Dielectric energy storage performance is assessed for PVDF nanocomposites with different wt% of BaZrO₃ at different frequencies and temperature. It has been observed that with increase of temperature, the permittivity increased while the energy density slightly decreased but significantly higher than pure polymer PVDF. A high energy density of 6.88 J/cm³ was obtained for BaZrO₃ electroactive nanocomposites at 50 °C and 5.06 J/cm³ at 70 °C. Overall, the testing results indicate that using nanocomposites of PVDF and BaZrO₃ as a dielectric component is promising for implementation to preserve high energy density values up to temperatures of 70 °C.The enhancement of dielectric permittivity and the energy density is attributed due to increase of interracial charge density. The effect of BaZrO₃ nanoparticles in energy density of PVDF is first time reported.     

Vibronic model of the stress effects on the relaxed excited state of the F center

A vibronic model of the stress effects on the relaxed excited state of the F center is studied by taking into account the Γ⁺₁, Γ⁺₃, and Γ^-₄-mode phonons. The vibronic parameters and stress coupling coefficients are determined for KCl. The orbital reduction is discussed.     

Influence of Yb concentration on upconversion luminescence of Ho

Upconversion (UC) emissions at 360 ((⁵F, ³F, ⁵G)₂ → ⁵I₈), 392 (³K₇/⁵G₄ → ⁵I₈), 428 (⁵G₅ → ⁵I₈), 554 (⁵S₂/⁵F₄ → ⁵I₈), 667 (⁵F₅ → ⁵I₈) and 754 (⁵S₂/⁵F₄ → ⁵I₇) nm were obtained in 0.1 mol% Ho³⁺/x mol% Yb³⁺:Y₂O₃ (x = 2, 5, 8, 11, 15) bulk ceramics under infrared (IR) excitation at 976 nm. The intensity of the UC luminescence centered at 554 and 754 nm increased with Yb³⁺ concentration from 2 to 5 mol% and decreased from 5 to 15 mol%, while the UC luminescence centered at 392, 428 and 667 nm increased with Yb³⁺ concentration from 2 to 11 mol%, then started to reduce with Yb³⁺ concentration until 15 mol%. This comes from the competition between the energy back transfer (EBT) process [⁵S₂/⁵F₄(Ho) + ²F_7/2(Yb) → ⁵I₆(Ho) + ²F_5/2(Yb) as well as ⁵F₅(Ho) + ²F_7/2(Yb) → ⁵I₇(Ho) + ²F_5/2(Yb)] and spontaneous radiation process. The intensity of the UC luminescence centered at 360 nm always increases with Yb³⁺ concentration from 2 to 15 mol%. We believe that it may come from the cooperation of energy transfer process from Yb³⁺ ions in the ²F_5/2 state and the cross energy transfer process ⁵S₂/⁵F₄ + ⁵I₆ → (⁵F, ³F, ⁵G)₂ + ⁵I₈.     

Synthesis,characterisation, luminescence and defect centres in solution combustion synthesised CaZrO3:Tb3+ phosphor

Tb³⁺ doped CaZrO₃ has been prepared by an easy solution combustion synthesis method. The combustion derived powder was investigated by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy techniques. A room temperature photoluminescence study showed that the phosphors can be efficiently excited by 251 nm light with a weak emission in the blue and orange region and a strong emission in green light region. CaZrO₃:Tb³⁺ exhibits three thermoluminescence (TL) glow peaks at 126 °C, 200 °C and 480 °C. Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) studies were carried out to study the defect centres induced in the phosphor by gamma irradiation and also to identify the centres responsible for the TL peaks. The room temperature ESR spectrum of irradiated phosphor appears to be a superposition of two distinct centres. One of the centres (centre I) with principal g-value 2.0233 is identified as an O^? ion. Centre II with an axial symmetric g-tensor with principal values g_=1.9986 and g_?=2.0023 is assigned to an F⁺ centre (singly ionised oxygen vacancy). An additional defect centre is observed during thermal annealing experiments and this centre (assigned to F⁺ centre) seems to originate from an F centre (oxygen vacancy with two electrons). The F centre and also the F⁺ centre appear to correlate with the observed high temperature TL peak in CaZrO₃:Tb³⁺ phosphor.     

A novel blue-emitting long-lasting proyphosphate phosphor Sr2P2O7:Eu,Y

By introducing the Y³⁺ into Sr₂P₂O₇:Eu²⁺, we successfully prepared a kind of new phosphor with blue long-lasting phosphorescence by the high-temperature solid-state reaction method. In this paper, the properties of Sr₂P₂O₇:Eu²⁺,Y³⁺ were investigated utilizing XRD, photoluminescence, luminescence decay, long-lasting phosphorescence and thermoluminescence (TL) spectra. The phosphor emitted blue light that was related to the 4f⁶5d¹-⁸S_7/2 transition of Eu²⁺. The bright blue phosphorescence could be observed by naked eyes even 8 h after the excitation source was removed. Two TL peaks at 317 and 378 K related to two types of defects appeared in the TL spectrum. By analyzing the TL curve the depths of traps were calculated to be 0.61 and 0.66 eV. Also, the mechanism of LLP was discussed in this report.