ESR study of europium ions in hydrolyzed CaF2: Eu crystals

Oxidation and reduction processes of europium ions in CaF₂ were studied by optical and ESR methods. Europium ions can be readily oxidized from the divalent to the trivalent states by heat-treatment above 600°C in a moist air atmosphere. The conversion can be well approximated by first order kinetics with an activation energy of 0.75 eV.

The reverse conversion from the trivalent to the divalent states can be accomplished by exposure to ionizing X-ray radiation. However, those reduced europium ions are thermally unstable and bleached completely by heating to 200°C. The decay process by low temperature annealing also follows first order kinetics with an activation energy of 0.60 eV. The conversions between the two states are explained by electron transfer.