Time- and Temperature-Dependent Luminescence of Manganese Ions in Ceramic Magnesium Aluminum Spinels.

Samples of magnesium aluminum spinel ceramics doped with manganese ions were prepared by a high-temperature solid-state reaction method; their potential as red-emitting phosphors was analyzed using a time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy technique, from room temperature to 10 K. It was found that in the red spectral range, the luminescence spectra of manganese ions in the MgAlO spinel showed a narrow band peaking at 651 nm due to the emission of Mn and a broader emission band in the region of 675 ÷ 720 nm; the ratio of intensities for these bands depends on the synthesis conditions. By applying a special multi-step annealing procedure, the MgAlO:Mn phosphor containing only tetravalent manganese ions, Mn, was synthesized.

4f-5d Transitions of Tb3+ in Cs2NaYF6: the effect of distortion of the excited-state configuration.

The low-temperature absorption and excitation spectra of interconfigurational 4f-5d transitions of Tb(3+) in a cubic fluoride host demonstrate the appearance of a first-order linear Jahn-Teller effect for the high-spin excited states of the excited electronic configuration 4f(7)5d involving 5d t(2g) orbitals. The τ(2g) mode is observed to be responsible for the splitting of the otherwise degenerate 5d t(2g) orbitals.

Emission and excitation spectra of Ce3+ and Pr3+ ions in hexafluoroelpasolite lattices.

The emission and excitation spectra of Ce(3+) and Pr(3+) doped into the cubic host Cs(2)NaYF(6) have been recorded at room temperature and ∼10 K using synchrotron radiation. The two 5d(1) T(2g) states of Ce(3+) have been located from the excitation spectra, whereas the E(g) state is placed above the host band gap. Decay measurements of the 5d(1) → 4f(1) Ce(3+) emission, and spectra collected using selective excitation, indicate the occupation of more than one type of site by Ce(3+) in this host lattice.

Vacuum ultraviolet excitation spectra of lanthanide-doped hexafluoroelpasolites.

Vacuum ultraviolet excitation spectra at ∼10 K have been recorded for [Formula: see text] transitions of Cs(2)NaYF(6):Ln(3+) (Ln = Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Ho, Er, Tm). In these high bandgap hosts the lanthanide ions occupy octahedral symmetry sites. The spectra comprise broad, structured bands and in most cases the individual vibronic structure is not resolved.

Inter- and intraconfigurational transitions of Nd3+ in hexafluoroelpasolite lattices.

Excitation of the 4f3 ion Nd3+ in hexafluoroelpasolite lattices by synchrotron radiation of wavelength approximately 185 nm leads to fast 4f(2)5d --> 4f3 emission below 52,630 cm(-1) and slower 4f3 --> 4f3 emission from the luminescent states (4)F(3/2) gamma8u (11 524 cm(-1)) and 2G2(9/2) gamma8u (approximately 47,500 cm(-1)). The near-infrared emission is well-resolved, and a clear interpretation of the 4I(9/2) crystal field levels and of the one-phonon vibronic sideband is given. The excitation spectrum of the 2G2(9/2) emission enables clarification of the structure of the 4f(2)5d configuration (which extends from approximately 52,000 to 128,000 cm(-1)).