Luminescence of neodymium-doped yttria

Pulsed cathodoluminescence of Nd³⁺: Y₂O₃ nanopowders of the cubic and monoclinic phases and the ceramics synthesized from these nanopowders has been investigated in the spectral range 350–850 nm. It is found that the IR emission band of neodymium ions in the Nd³⁺: Y₂O₃ cubic phase is located at λ₁ ≈ 825 nm. When there is a monoclinic phase admixture, two additional luminescence bands of Nd³⁺ arise in the spectrum at λ₂ ≈ 750 nm and λ₃ ≈ 720 nm. The emission spectrum of all Nd³⁺: Y₂O₃ materials also contains a wide intrinsic band of yttrium oxide at λ ≈ 485 nm; however, the presence of neodymium decreases the intensity of this band and increases the its structurization. It is suggested that the structure of this band in Nd³⁺: Y₂O₃ materials is mainly determined by local absorption (self-absorption) of neodymium ions.