(Lu0.3Gd0.7)(2)SiO5:Y3+ single crystals grown by the laser floating zone method: structural and optical studies

abstract

Highly transparent (Lu0.3Gd0.7)(2)SiO5:Y3+ (5 at%) single crystals were obtained by the laser floating zone (LFZ) technique in air at 10 mm h(-1). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDS) allowed observation of homogeneous crystalline fibres of B-type oxyorthosilicates with a C2/c monoclinic structure, as revealed by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy studies. Optical measurements on 0.32 mm thick samples revealed approximate to 86% transmission in the visible-NIR range, together with intense intra 4f(7) transitions of Gd3+ ions from the S-8(7/2) ground state in the UV region. Additionally, as a good indication of being a host matrix for photonic applications, a wide bandgap favouring the introduction of energy levels in the forbidden band was observed in these materials through photoluminescence (PL) and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) studies.

keywords

VISIBLE LUMINESCENCE; ENERGY-TRANSFER; DY3+; TB3+; EMISSION; EU3+; SM3+; EXCITATION; LU2SIO5; LIGHT

subject category

Chemistry; Crystallography

authors

Rey-Garcia, F; Rodrigues, J; Fernandes, AJS; Soares, MR; Monteiro, T; Costa, FM

our authors

Groups

acknowledgements

This work is funded by FEDER funds through the COMPETE 2020 Programme and National Funds through FCT - Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the project UID/CTM/50025/2013. F. Rey-Garcia acknowledges the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) for the SFRH/BPD/108581/2015 grant. We also want to acknowledge Prof. L. Rino for the equipment employed for the transmission measurements in the visible region.

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