Electron spin resonance of copper pair centers in crystals with perovskite structure

Copper pair centers, which could be of interest for obtaining quantitative information about exchange interactions in superconductors based on cuprate perovskites, are observed in crystals with the perovskite structure by the ESR method. Such centers are investigated in KTaO₃:Cu and K_1−x Li_xTaO₃:Cu crystals. A model consisting of a chain of two equivalent Cu²⁺ ions and three oxygen vacancies, extending along the 〈 100〉 axis, is proposed for the centers. The exchange interaction in the pairs is ferromagnetic. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 69, No. 12, 890–894 (25 June 1999)     

Luminescence of Ln3+ and WO 2 2+ ions in wolframylphosphate glasses

We investigate the luminescent properties of potassium wolframylphosphate glasses doped with Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺, and Dy³⁺ ions whose luminescence is excited by donor-acceptor interaction between the active WO ₂ ²⁺ and Ln³⁺ ions, as well as the migration of energy in the subsystems of each type of the active ions. Comparison of the obtained data with the results of investigation of the spectroscopic properties of Ln³⁺ in uranylphosphate materials shows that a sufficiently high degree of the ionicity of bonds of Ln³⁺ with the atoms of its first coordination sphere is preserved in wolframylphosphate matrices. We show that three stages of the decomposition of electron excitations are typical of the WO ₂ ²⁺ ions in wolframylphosphate glasses doped with Ln³⁺ and two stages in nonactivated glasses. The electron excitation energy transfer in the WO ₂ ²⁺ −Ln³⁺ system occurs due to induction-resonance interaction. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 64, No. 5, pp. 620–625, September–October, 1997.     

Luminescence properties of Y2O3:Bi3+, Ln3+ (Ln=Sm,Eu, Dy,Er, Ho) and the sensitization of Ln3+ by Bi3+

The spectroscopic characterization of yttria, singly and doubly doped with Ln³⁺ (Ln=Sm, Eu, Dy, Er, Ho) and Bi³⁺ ions, is performed through excitation spectra, emission spectra and decay time measurements. The obtained spectroscopic data clearly indicate that energy transfer takes place from Bi³⁺ to Ln³⁺ ions. The energy transfer efficiency of Bi³⁺→Ln³⁺ and quantum efficiency of Ln³⁺ were calculated. Upon excitation of 370 nm (Bi³⁺ excitation band), the quantum efficiency of Ln³⁺ varies from ～4% to ～44%. The energy transfer efficiency increases continuously with increasing Ln³⁺ concentrations, whereas the variation of the quantum efficiency of Ln³⁺ is complicated. The quantum efficiency of Ln³⁺ is discussed in terms of electron transfer and cross relaxation.     

Influence of the interconfigurational interaction on the crystal field of Ln3+ ions

A theory of the crystal field for Ln³⁺ ions is proposed which takes account of the difference in the effect of excited configurations on high-lying and low-lying multiplets. The effective-operator method in third-order perturbation theory is used to obtain the Hamiltonian of the crystal field, which in addition to the usual terms contains energy-dependent operators. Their role is discussed in detail. For the new operators we have obtained convenient expressions which make it possible for the first time to determine the parameters of an odd crystal field on the basis of an analysis of the structure of the energy spectrum. Theory is compared with experiment for the laser crystals Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Tm³⁺ and LiYF₄:Pr³⁺. Taking the new terms of the crystal-field Hamiltonian into account produces an additional shift of individual levels within the limits from −40 cm⁻¹ to 40 cm⁻¹ and makes it possible in a number of cases not only to substantially reduce the value of the standard deviation, but also to obtain the correct arrangement of levels. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 116, 2087–2102 (December 1999)     

Interaction Between Pr3☎ Pairs and Excitons in CsCdBr3

CsCdBr₃ consists of linear chains of [CdBr₆]^4- octahedra separated by Cs^? ions. The excited states of the covalently bound [CdBr₆]^4- octahedra form the lowest excitonic states of the crystal lattice. The trivalent Pr ions substitute for the divalent Cd ions. For reasons of charge compensation in the linear Cd^2? chains, pair centers of the form Pr^3?-(Cd vacancy)-Pr^3? are predominantly formed. In CsCdBr₃ the optical band gap is wider than the electronic one. This allows to study the interaction between Pr^3? ions and excitons by means of optical spectroscopy. The interaction leads to quantum up- and down-conversion generating one photon from two lower ones in energy and vice versa. Related experiments are discussed.     

Infrared and ESR spectroscopy of KTaO3 : Er

Infrared reflection and ESR spectra of KTaO₃ : Er³⁺ single crystals have been investigated. The frequency of the lowest optical phonon mode TO₁ has been found to increase as compared to undoped KTaO₃ crystals, which indicates the suppression of the ferroelectric instability of the system. The ESR spectra have revealed the presence of two Er³⁺ centers of different (cubic and non-cubic) symmetries in KTaO₃ : Er³⁺.     

Optical spectra of octahedral cubic and trigonal Yb3+ impurity centers in KMgF3 and KZnF3 crystals

Groups of lines corresponding to octahedral cubic and trigonal impurity centers have been isolated in complex many-center luminescence and excitation spectra of Yb³⁺-doped KMgF₃ and KZnF₃ crystals. The crystal-field potentials derived from the spectra are in good agreement with those of similar centers in CsCaF₃:Yb³⁺ crystal studied earlier. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 2029–2034 (November 1998)     

EPR of Pb3+ ion in LiBaF3 crystals

Complex EPR spectra of paramagnetic centers Pb³⁺ formed in LiBaF₃:Pb²⁺ crystals under X-ray irradiation are studied in the temperature range of 10–150 K. It is shown that lead ions substitute Ba²⁺ ions in the LiBaF₃ crystal and are in the cubic-octahedral 12-fold environment of the fluorine ions. The hyperfine structure constants describing the observed spectrum are determined and parameters of superhyperfine interaction with the nearest fluorine ions are estimated.     

Co-reduction synthesis of new LnxSb2−xS3 (Ln: Nd, Lu, Ho) nanomaterials and investigation of their physical properties

New Ln_xSb_2−xS₃ (Ln: Lu³⁺, Ho³⁺, Nd³⁺)-based nanomaterials were synthesized by a co-reduction method. Powder XRD patterns indicate that the Ln_xSb_2−xS₃ crystals (Ln=Lu³⁺, Ho³⁺, x=0.00−0.1 and Ln=Nd³⁺, x=0.00−0.08) are isostructural with Sb₂S₃. SEM images show that doping of Lu³⁺ and Ho³⁺ ions in the lattice of Sb₂S₃ results in nanorods while that in Nd³⁺ leads to nanoflowers. UV-vis absorption and emission spectroscopy reveal mainly electronic transitions of the Ln³⁺ ions in case of Ho³⁺ and Nd³⁺ doped nanomaterials. Emission spectra show intense transitions from excited to ground state of Ln³⁺. Emission spectra of doped materials, in addition to the characteristic red emission peaks of Sb₂S₃, show other emission bands originating from f-f transitions of the Ho³⁺ ions. TGA curves indicated that Sb₂S₃ has the highest thermal stability. The electrical conductance of Ln-doped Sb₂S₃ is higher than undoped Sb₂S₃, and increase with temperature.     

Tetragonal distortions of the octahedral environments of Cr3+, Fe3+ and Gd3+ ions in A2CdF4 (A = Rb,Cs) and ACdF3 crystals

Abstract

The tetragonal distortions of local octahedral environments of Cr³⁺, Fe³⁺ and Gd³⁺ ions in Rb₂CdF₄, Cs₂CdF₄, RbCdF₃ and CsCdF₃ crystals have been studied by analyzing their EPR spectra. From the studies, it is found that the tetragonal distortions for Cr³⁺ and Fe³⁺ impurity ions, which substitute Cd²⁺ and have nearly the same ionic radius, are close to each other, whereas that for Gd³⁺ impurity ion, having a larger ionic radius, is larger than those for Cr³⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions in the same crystal. It appears that not only the impurity-ligand distance, but also the tetragonal distortions of impurity centres in crystals are closely related to the size of impurity.     

Spectroscopic properties of a Ce3+Tm3+ center in CsCdBr3 crystals: Absorption,emission, and energy transfer

When crystals of CsCdBr₃ are doped with trivalent cerium and thulium, it appears that Ce³⁺-vacancy-Tm³⁺ centers are formed. A very efficient cerium to thulium energy transfer is observed in this center when the doped crystals are irradiated at the energy (～ 27800 cm^?1) corresponding to the 4f → 5d transition of Ce³⁺. Spectroscopic studies indicate that the energy transfer begins to diminish when the temperature is raised above 100 K. At room temperature the doped crystals show no detectable energy transfer.     

Hyperfine structure of submillimeter EPR spectra of non-Kramers lanthanide ions in crystals

The hyperfine structures of submillimeter EPR spectra of CsCdBr₃:Tm³⁺ and CaF₂:Dy²⁺ single crystals have been resolved and analyzed. The crystal field parameters and the magnetic hyperfine constants are obtained from fitting the envelopes of the simulated spectra to the measured signals. From the specific peculiarities of the hyperfine structure the energy of the interion interaction in the thulium dimers in CsCdBr₃ is determined. The isotopic shift of the crystal field splitting in energy patterns of dysprosium isotopes in CainF₂ is estimated.     

The transition from dynamics to statics in the electron-spin-resonance spectra of impurity Mn2+ ions in strontium titanate

The electron-spin-resonance (ESR) spectra of SrTiO₃:Mn single crystals have been investigated. Results unambiguously indicate that the impurity center formed by an Mn²⁺ ion has a dynamic nature. In the high temperature range (T > 100 K), ESR spectra of Mn²⁺ ions reveal cubic symmetry; the spectrum is found to broaden significantly with a decrease in temperature. Upon cooling to T < 10 K, low-symmetry centers of Mn²⁺ ions with a strong orientational dependence emerge in the spectra. Temperature evolution of the ESR spectrum can be described within the model of a dynamic off-center Mn²⁺ ion substituting for the Sr²⁺ ion, with a transition to the static regime at low temperatures with an average localization energy of ～2.4 ± 0.4 meV for Mn²⁺ centers due to random deformations.     

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.     

Characterization of free radicals generated from the reaction of Fe3+/Fe2+ withtert-butyl hydroperoxide and the effect of lanthanide ions

The inhibitory effects of lanthanide ions on the generation of free radicals from the reaction of Fe³⁺ and Fe²⁺ withtert-butyl hydroperoxide (^tBuOOH) were investigated by electron spin resonance (ESR) utilizing 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) as a spin trap. Peroxyl, alkoxyl, and carbon-centered free radicals generated from Fe³⁺-^tBuOOH system were successfully trapped by DMPO, whereas peroxyl radicals were not trapped in Fe²⁺-^tBuOOH system. Peroxyl and alkoxyl radicals are initial radical species generated from Fe³⁺ and Fe²⁺ systems, respectively. The carbon-centered radicals (^⋅CH₃) might be attributed to β-scission reaction of these alkoxyl radicals. The ESR signals of DMPO adducts of these radicals were quenched in the presence of lanthanides (Ln³⁺ or [Ln(cit)₂]³⁻), in concentration-dependent fashion. Moreover, the quenching effect of Ln³⁺ is closely related to the time the Ln³⁺ was added into the free-radical-triggered systems. The results reveal that there might be various mechanisms responsible for inhibiting generation and transformation of the free radicals. If Ln³⁺ and iron react with peroxide simultaneously, the complex formation of Ln³⁺ with^tBuOOH will be the main mechanism of the competitive inhibitory effect of Ln³⁺. Whereas if Ln³⁺ is added after iron, the inhibitory effect on the ESR signal of DMPO adducts might be interpreted preferentially by the coordination and magnetic dipole-dipole interaction between Ln³⁺ and DMPO adducts.     

Study of ESR spectra of Ce<Superscript>3+</Superscript> ions in polycrystalline Sr<Subscript>2</Subscript>B<Subscript>5</Subscript>O<Subscript>9</Subscript>Br

ESR spectra of Ce³⁺ ions in polycrystalline Sr₂B₅O₉Br were studied, and the two crystallographic positions of the Ce³⁺ ion in this compound were identified on the basis of the data obtained. The ESR spectrum of Ce³⁺ ions with local charge compensation contains a broad line indicating the existence of several types of charge compensation. ESR spectra of Ce³⁺ ions in samples activated additionally by K⁺ ions are similar to those of the regular Ce³⁺ centers, which indicates that the effect of the univalent cation on Ce³⁺ is negligible.     

Synthesis and characterization of new LnxSb2−xSe3 (Ln: Yb, Er) nanoflowers and their physical properties

New Ln_xSb_2−xSe₃ (Ln: Yb³⁺, Er³) based nanomaterials were synthesized by a co-reduction method. Powder XRD patterns indicate that the Ln_xSb_2−xSe₃crystals (Ln=Yb³⁺, Er³⁺, x=0.00-0.12) are isostructural with Sb₂Se₃. The cell parameters b and c decrease for Ln=Er³⁺ and Yb³⁺ upon increasing the dopant content (x), while a increases. SEM images show that doping of the lanthanide ions in the lattice of Sb₂Se₃ generally results in nanoflowers. UV-vis absorption and emission spectroscopy reveals mainly electronic transitions of the Ln³⁺ ions in case of Yb³⁺ doped nanomaterials. Emission spectra of doped materials, in addition to the characteristic red emission peaks of Sb₂Se₃, show additional emission bands centered at 955 nm, originating from the ²F_7/2→²F_5/2 transition (f-f transitions) of the Yb³⁺ ions. DSC curves indicate that Sb₂Se₃ has the highest thermal stability. The temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity of doped-Sb₂Se₃ with Yb³⁺ and Er³⁺ was studied.     

Photoluminescence of LiNbO3 crystals doped with Er3+ and Yb3+ ions

Results of cooperative phenomena investigations in the impurity subsystem of lithium niobate crystals doped with Er³⁺ and co-doped with Yb³⁺ impurity ions under continuous wave and pulsed excitation at 975 nm and 1064 nm wavelengths are presented. Dependences of some spectroscopic characteristics on the intensity of laser pumping are studied. Based on the pair centers model the analysis of the cooperative luminescence behavior in LiNbO₃:Yb³⁺+Er³⁺ crystals is performed.     

Charge conversion of uranium ions in CaF2

Single crystals of CaF₂ doped with uranium ions exhibiting a light red colour have been grown in an inert atmosphere. ESR spectra belonging to U³⁺ centers unstable at room temperature could be observed only after UV-irradiation at liquid nitrogen temperature. The formation and annealing of these centers as well as the optical absorption date indicate that a new charge conversion mechanism is effective in such crystals.     

Synthesis,crystal structure,and luminescence properties of CaY2Ge3O10:Ln3+, Ln = Eu,Tb

The crystal structure and luminescence properties of CaY₂Ge₃O₁₀:Ln³⁺ (Ln = Eu, Tb) germanates synthesized via a conventional solid-state reaction and an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid complexing process are studied. The CaY_{2 ? x} Ln _x Ge₃O₁₀ (Ln = Eu, Tb; x = 0–1.0, 2.0; Δx = 0.1) solid solutions have a monoclinic structure (space group P2₁/c, Z = 4), in which dopant ions occupy three nonequivalent noncentrosymmetric sites with different Ca²⁺/Ln³⁺ ratios. The effect of the synthesis methods, dopant concentrations, and excitation wavelengths on the luminescence properties of the compounds obtained is determined.