Synthesis and spectral characteristics of Sr2Y8(SiO4)6O2: Eu polycrystals

Spectral-luminescent characteristics of Sr₂Y₈(SiO₄)₆O₂: Eu powder crystal phosphor with the apatite structure and high-intensity luminescence of Eu³⁺ ions have been studied. The charge state of europium in the samples has been characterized by means of X-ray L₃-adsorption spectroscopy. It was established that Eu³⁺ forms two types of optical centers. Besides, luminescence of Eu²⁺ions was found. Reduction Eu³⁺→Eu²⁺ was considered, which may be due to vacancy formation in the 4f crystal lattice position and to negative charge transfer by this vacancy to two ions. Thus, in the silicate lattice there exist inhomogeneously distributed oxygen-deficient centers, which are responsible for nonradiative transfer of excitation energy to Eu³⁺ and Eu²⁺ ions. To study electron-vibrational interactions in the crystal phosphor samples, their IR and Raman spectra were examined. In the luminescence spectrum of Eu²⁺, a series of low-intensity bands caused by interaction of the 4f⁶5d state of Eu²⁺ with silicate lattice vibrations was observed.     

Prospects of Sol-Gel Process for Spectral Hole-Burning Glasses

Persistent spectral hole burning was studied in Eu³⁺ ions-doped Al₂O₃-SiO₂ glass prepared by a sol-gel method. The gel synthesized by the hydrolysis of Si- and Al-alkoxides and EuCl₃·6H₂O was heated in air and hydrogen gas atmospheres. For the glass heated in air to contain OH bonds, the hole was formed by the photoinduced rearrangement of the OH bonds surrounding the Eu³⁺ ions, and was thermally refilled and erased above 200 K. On the other hand, the glass heated in hydrogen gas showed the hole spectrum above 200 K. It was found that the hole depth was independent of the temperature and was 7% of the total intensity at room temperature. The proposed mechanism was the electron transfer between the Eu³⁺ ions and the defect centers formed in glass matrix.     

Spectral Hole-Burning in Femtosecond Laser-Irradiated Eu<Superscript>3+</Superscript>-Doped Aluminosilicate Glasses

We studied the persistent spectral hole-burning (PSHB) of the Eu³⁺-doped Al₂O₃-SiO₂ glasses, prepared by a sol–gel process, exposed to femtosecond laser pulses. The spectral holes were burned in the excitation spectra of the ⁷F₀⁵D₀ transition of Eu³⁺ ion. The depth and width of the burned holes were 15% and 2.5 cm^–1 fwhm at 7 K, respectively. The burned hole is stable up to room temperature. Fluorescence line narrowing spectra showed that Eu³⁺ ions were located in two different sites.     

Synthesis and Luminescence of Eu3+-Doped Narsarsukite Prepared by the Sol-Gel Process

The sol-gel synthesis and structural characterisation of narsarsukite powders are reported. Samples doped with different Eu³⁺ amounts (Ti/Eu = 20 and 200), calcined at 800°C, have been characterised by powder XRD, ²³Na, ²⁹Si MAS NMR, Raman and luminescence spectroscopies. Eu³⁺-doped narsarsukite displays a high and stable room-temperature luminescence. The presence in narsarsukite of two different Eu³⁺ local environments is inferred based both on the distinct ⁵D₀ ⁷F₀ lines observed and on the local field splitting of the ⁷F_1,2 levels. For low lanthanide contents, the Eu³⁺ ions are essentially localised in a centrosymmetric environment characterized by a low-energy ⁵D₀ ⁷F₀ line and a relatively long ⁵D₀ lifetime (3.56–3.96 ms). In contrast, at high lanthanide contents the Eu³⁺ ions are also present in a second local site with a less covalent first coordination shell. This corresponds to a high-energy ⁵D₀ ⁷F₀ line and a short ⁵D₀ lifetime (0.84–0.99 ms). Therefore, it is likely that Eu³⁺ ions substitute for both Ti⁴⁺ and Na⁺, although the former ions are preferentially replaced at low Eu³⁺ content.     

Room Temperature Persistent Spectral Hole-Burning in Sol-Gel-Derived Glasses Doped with Eu3+ Ions

Persistent spectral hole burning was investigated for the Eu³⁺ ions-doped glasses prepared by a sol-gel method. For the glasses containing OH bonds, persistent spectral hole is burned by the laser-induced rearrangement of the OH bonds surrounding the Eu³⁺ ions, which is thermally unstable to erase up to 200 K. On the other hand, the Eu³⁺-doped Al₂O₃-SiO₂ glasses which are heated under H₂ gas or irradiated with X-ray exhibit room temperature PSHB. The depth of the burnt hole increases as the Al₂O₃ content increases. The hole-formation could be explained by a model of the excitation of the Eu³⁺ ions and subsequent electron transfer with the excited [Eu³⁺]^– or oxygen-defect centers in the Al—O bonds. The burnt holes are more stable compared with those burned by the rearrangement of the OH bonds.     

Radioluminescence of Europium(III) in POCl3–SnCl4–235UO2+ 2–Eu3+, and D2O–235UO2+ 2–Eu3+ Solutions

Results of studying the spectral and luminescent properties of Eu³⁺ ions upon homogeneous excitation of POCl₃–SnCl₄–^-UO²⁺ ₂–Eu³⁺ and D₂O–²³⁵UO²⁺ ₂–Eu³⁺ solutions by -particles are presented. It was found that the radioluminescence intensity of Eu³⁺ ions in both solvents increases proportionally to the energy input by -particles. The yield of radioluminescence photons from europium ions in the POCl₃–SnCl₄–UO²⁺ ₂–Eu³⁺ solutions is more than nine times as high as that in D₂O–UO²⁺ ₂–Eu³⁺. The radiation-chemical yields of excited ⁵ D ₀ states of Eu³⁺ ions are 0.74 ± 0.07 and 0.18 ± 0.02 ions/100 eV in POCl₃–SnCl₄–UO²⁺ ₂–Eu³⁺ and D₂O–UO²⁺ ₂–Eu³⁺ solutions, respectively.     

Local structure and photoluminescent characteristics of Eu<Superscript>3+</Superscript> in ZnO–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> glasses

The photoluminescence properties of xZnO–(100−x)SiO₂ (x = 0, 5, 10, 20) containing 1% Eu₂O₃ prepared by a sol–gel method were systematically investigated. The results indicated that the relative proportion of f–f transitions to charge transfer (CT) absorption decreased with the increase of ZnO concentration. The intensity of ⁵D₀–⁷F_J transitions of Eu³⁺ ions was enhanced with the increase of ZnO content due to local structure changes and decreased quantities of Eu³⁺ ions clusters. The results of fluorescence line narrow (FLN) spectra indicated that Eu³⁺ ions occupied one site in SiO₂ glass and two sites in ZnO–SiO₂ glasses. The second-order crystal field parameters were calculated. B₂₀ and B₂₂ for site 1 increased with excitation energy, while ones hardly changed for site 2.     

Rare-Earth Actived Sol-Gel Films for Scintillator Applications

Recently, there has been a growth of interest in new phosphors preparation for high resolution X-rays imaging systems. Sol-gel method has been used to synthesize europium doped gadolinium and lutetium oxide films. Structural and optical results are investigated and discussed on both Gd₂O₃:Eu³⁺ (5 mol%) and Lu₂O₃:Eu³⁺ (5 mol%). Those films are crystallized into cubic phase and present a density of 7.1 g/cm³ and 8.4 g/cm³ for Gd₂O₃:Eu³⁺ and Lu₂O₃:Eu³⁺ respectively. Room temperature emission spectra using an excitation of 468 nm was used to obtain the intense red emission ⁵D₀ ⁷F₂ (611 nm) of Eu³⁺. Scintillation properties at 611 nm are finally proved using X-rays excitation.     

Energy Transfer Between Eu3+ Ions and CdS Quantum Dots in Sol-Gel Derived CdS/SiO2 : Eu3+ Gel

We have investigated the energetic correlation between rare-earth ions and semiconductor nanocrystals, using europium ion (Eu³⁺) doped silica (SiO₂) gel with adsorbed cadmium sulfide (CdS) particles. Samples were prepared by a sol-gel technique, in which several methods for the precipitation of CdS colloids were attempted. The fluorescence intensities were compared for different gels, with and without CdS particles. The intrinsic emission lines due to ⁵D₀ ⁷F_J(J = 0–4) transitions of Eu³⁺ were observed, which were enhanced for 24 h-immersed gel (dried at 50°C). From the results on the decay dynamics of fluorescence, we proposed the model that surface-trapped electrons on CdS particles nonradiatively excited 4f electrons in Eu³⁺ ions due to an energy transfer process.     

The standard and anomalous crystal-field spectra of Eu

The crystal-field (CF) spectra of Eu³⁺ in various inorganic crystalline phases are summarized based on previous investigations. A majority of experimental results can be well interpreted using a standard CF model. However, there are cases in which the spectroscopic properties and fluorescence dynamics of Eu³⁺ cannot be interpreted within the framework of the standard model. A particularly interesting system is Eu³⁺ doped into microcrystals of a charge-unbalanced host such as BaFCl. For Eu³⁺:BaFCl, one Eu³⁺ site (Site I) exhibits normal CF splitting and its energy levels and fluorescence intensity are similar to most other normal systems ever reported. A standard CF fitting has been performed for Site I. However, Eu³⁺ at a distorted site (Site II) is of anomalous fluorescence dynamics and CF splitting which are significantly different from those of Site I. In the metastable state of ⁵D₀, Eu³⁺ ions at Site II also exhibit unusual temperature-dependent lifetime.     

Eu luminescence—a structural probe in BiCa4(PO4)3O, an apatite related phosphate

Eu³⁺ luminescence is studied in apatite-related phosphate BiCa₄(PO₄)₃O. Compositions of the formula Bi_1−xEu_xCa₄(PO₄)₃O [x=0.05, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.8 and 1.0] are synthesized and they are isostructural with parent BiCa₄(PO₄)₃O. Room temperature photoluminescence shows the various transitions ⁵D₀→⁷F_J(=0,1,2) of Eu³⁺. The emission results of compositions with different Eu³⁺ content show the difference in site occupancy of Eu³⁺ in Bi_1−xEu_xCa₄(PO₄)₃O. The intense ⁵D₀-⁷F₀ line at 574 nm for higher Eu³⁺ content is attributed to the presence of strongly covalent Eu-O bond that is possible by substituting Bi³⁺ in the Ca(2) site. This shows the preferential occupancy of Bi³⁺ in Ca(2) site and this has been attributed to the 6s² lone pair electrons of Bi³⁺. This is further confirmed by comparing the emission results with La_0.95Eu_0.05Ca₄(PO₄)₃O.     

Spectroscopic characterization of SnO2 gels

Excitation and dynamic emission spectra of Eu³⁺ ions were simultaneously used with FTIR and Raman spectroscopy to study the structural evolution during SnO₂ sol gel xerogel conversion. Results make evident an increase of the surroundings symmetry for the Eu³⁺ ions dissolved in SnO₂ matrix and a decrease of the amount of hydroxo groups (Sn-OH) during drying. These phenomena were associated to the pursuit of the condensation reaction after gelation.     

钙钛矿结构荧光材料MZrO3:Eu3+,A (M=Ca2+, Ba2+; A=Li+, Na+, K+)的制备及其发光性质

Calcium and barium zirconate powders based upon CaZrO₃:Eu³⁺,A and BaZrO₃:Eu³⁺,A (A=Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺) were prepared by combustion synthesis method and heating to ~1000℃ to improve crystallinity.The structure and morphology of materials were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanningelectron microscopy (SEM). XRD results showed that CaZrO₃:Eu³⁺,A and BaZrO₃:Eu³⁺,A (A=Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺) perovskites possessed orthorhombic and cubic structures, respectively. The morphologies of all powderswere very similar consisting of small, coagulated, cubical particles with narrow size distributions andsmooth and regular surfaces. The characteristic luminescences of Eu³⁺ ions in CaZrO₃:Eu³⁺,A (A=Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺) lattices were present with strong emissions at 614 and 625 nm for ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transitions with other weakeremissions observed at 575, 592, 655, and 701 nm corresponding to ⁵D₀→⁷F_n transitions (where n=0, 1, 3, 4 respectively). In BaZrO₃:Eu³⁺ both the ⁵D₀→⁷F₁ and ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transitions at 595 and 613 nm were strong.Photoluminescence intensities of CaZrO₃:Eu³⁺ samples were higher than those of BaZrO₃:Eu³⁺ lattices. Thisremarkable increase of photoluminescence intensity (corresponding to ⁵D₀→⁷F_n transitions) was observedin CaZrO₃:Eu³⁺ and BaZrO₃:Eu³⁺ if co-doped with Li⁺ ions. An additional broad band composed of manypeaks between 440 to 575 nm was observed in BaZrO₃:Eu³⁺,,A samples. The intensity of this band wasgreatest in Li⁺ co-doped samples and lowest for K⁺ doped samples.     

Eu luminescence in La5Si2BO13 with apatite related structure and magnetic studies in Ln5Si2BO13 (Ln=Gd, Dy)

Eu³⁺ photoluminescence is studied in La₅Si₂BO₁₃ with apatite related structure. La_5−xEu_xSi₂BO₁₃ [x=0.05, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0, 2.0] compositions are synthesized. The emission results shows that Eu³⁺ ions occupy two different cationic sites viz., La(1) and La(2). The increase in the intensity of ⁵D₀-⁷F₀ line with increasing Eu³⁺ content shows the preferential occupancy of Eu³⁺ in La(2) site due to the existence of short La(2)-O(4) (free oxide ion) bond. The observation of antiferromagnetic interactions in Gd and Dy analogues supports the structural features elucidates from photoluminescence studies.     

Magnetic properties and Eu Mössbauer effects of mixed valence europium copper sulfide, Eu2CuS3

Ternary europium copper sulfide Eu₂CuS₃ have been investigated by X-ray diffraction, ¹⁵¹Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, and specific heat measurements. In this compound, Eu²⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions occupy two crystallographically independent sites. The ¹⁵¹Eu Mössbauer spectra indicate that the Eu²⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions exist in the molar ratio of 1:1, and the Debye temperatures of Eu²⁺ and Eu³⁺ are 180 and 220 K, respectively. In its magnetic susceptibility, the divergence between the zero-field cooled and field cooled susceptibilities appears below 3.4 K. The specific heat has a λ-type anomaly at the same temperature. From the field dependence of magnetization at 1.8 K, the Eu²⁺ ion was found to be in the ferromagnetic state with the saturation magnetization M_S=6.7 μ_B.     

Comparison between electron-phonon coupling strengths of U and Nd ions doped in LaCl3 and U in LaBr3 single crystals

Temperature-dependent line width and line shift measurements between 7 and 280 K have been performed for a number of absorption transitions in the 4000-21,000 cm⁻¹ energy range of the U³⁺:LaCl₃, Nd³⁺:LaCl₃ and U³⁺:LaBr₃ single crystal spectra. The values of the electron-phonon coupling parameter were determined for U³⁺:LaCl₃ and Nd³⁺:LaCl₃ by a fit of experimentally observed line widths to an equation containing the temperature dependent broadening due to the Raman two-phonon process. For both ions diluted in LaCl₃ the values of the parameters are considerably lower than in K₂LaCl₅, and the value of for U³⁺ in the LaCl₃ host is markedly larger as compared with that of Nd³⁺. Factors influencing these differences are discussed. With a temperature increase a blue shift of the absorption lines of the U³⁺ ions in LaCl₃ and LaBr₃ is observed. A comparison has been performed among the electron-phonon coupling parameters obtained from an analysis of the line widths of the U³⁺:LaCl₃ single crystal and those determined from temperature induced line shifts as well as between the magnitudes of the absolute increase in line width and line shifts in the 7-290 K temperature range for U³⁺ doped LaCl₃ and LaBr₃ crystals. The electron-phonon coupling is stronger for U³⁺ in the tribromide as compared with the trichloride host which is mainly due to a larger covalency of the first one.     

Preparation and optical properties of SrF2:Eu nanospheres

SrF₂:Eu³⁺ nanospheres with homogeneous diameter have been synthesized by a microemulsion-mediated hydrothermal method for the first time, in which quaternary microemulsion of CTAB/water/cyclohexane/n-pentanol was used. The possible reaction mechanism and the luminescent properties of SrF₂:Eu³⁺ nanospheres were also investigated in this paper. The morphology and grain sizes of final products were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, indicating that most of the products were nanospheres with an average diameter of ∼50 nm. Room-temperature emission spectra, recorded under 394-nm excitation, showed that the transition of ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₁ emission be dominating in SrF₂:Eu³⁺ nanospheres. From the dependence of the luminescence intensity on the concentration of Eu³⁺ ions, the optimal dopant concentration is 2 mol%.     

Fabrication and luminescent properties of rare earths-doped Gd2(WO4)3 thin film phosphors by Pechini sol-gel process

Rare earth ions (Eu³⁺ and Dy³⁺)-doped Gd₂(WO₄)₃ phosphor films were prepared by a Pechini sol-gel process. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and photoluminescence (PL) spectra as well as lifetimes were used to characterize the resulting powders and films. The results of XRD indicate that the films begin to crystallize at 600°C and the crystallinity increases with the elevation of annealing temperatures. The film is uniform and crack-free, mainly consists of closely packed fine particles with an average grain size of 80 nm. Owing to an energy transfer from WO₄²⁻ groups, the rare earth ions show their characteristic emissions in crystalline Gd₂(WO₄)₃ phosphor films, i.e., (J=0, 1, 2, 3; J′=0, 1, 2, 3, 4, not in all cases) transitions for Eu³⁺ and (J=13/2, 15/2) transitions for Dy³⁺, with the hypersensitive transitions (Eu³⁺) and (Dy³⁺) being the most prominent groups, respectively. Both the lifetimes and PL intensity of the Eu³⁺ () and Dy³⁺ () increase with increasing the annealing temperature from 500°C to 800°C, and the optimum doping concentrations for Eu³⁺ and Dy³⁺ are determined to be 30 and 6 at% of Gd³⁺ in Gd₂(WO₄)₃ film host lattices, respectively.     

Line broadening studies for U and U ions in RbY2Cl7 single crystals

Temperature-dependent line broadening measurements of emission and excitation transitions for two intrinsic sites U(1) and U(2) of U³⁺ ions doped in a RbY₂Cl₇ single crystals as well as of U⁴⁺ ions have been performed. Values of the electron phonon (EP) coupling parameter were determined by a fit of experimentally observed line widths to an equation containing the temperature dependent broadening term due to the Raman two-phonon process. The parameters for U³⁺ ions in RbY₂Cl₇ are larger than those determined for this ion in LaCl₃ host crystals. This is due to shorter M-Cl distances in RbY₂Cl₇ which leads to a stronger interaction of uranium with the chlorine ions and to an increase of covalency. The relatively large value determined for the multiplet of U³⁺ in RbY₂Cl₇ may result from the proximity of opposite parity 5f²6d¹ states. The parameters obtained for the U³⁺ ions are larger than those for U⁴⁺. The latter ones are affected by a stronger crystal-field (CF), however the position of the first 5f²6d¹ or 5f¹6d¹ states, which for U³⁺ is observed at an energy of ∼15,000 cm⁻¹ lower than for U⁴⁺, is the dominating one among the factors influencing the EP coupling strength. The EP coupling parameters for all investigated transitions of the U³⁺ ions are larger for U(2) than for U(1), which results mainly from the larger crystal field strength observed for the U(2) site. The differences in the EP coupling strength of the U³⁺ ions in the U(1) and U(2) sites are in accordance with decay times observed for emission for both sites from the multiplet.