Comparing the luminescence processes of YVO4:Eu and core-shell YVO4@YF3 nanocrystals with bulk-YVO4:Eu

Abstract Comparative analysis of bulk, non-coated and core-shelled nanocrystalline YVO4:Eu was performed by means of time-resolved luminescence and VUV excitation luminescence spectroscopy techniques. Nanocrystalline YVO4:Eu samples – both as-prepared and YF3 core-shelled – have been synthesized by means of a microwave-assisted synthesis in ionic liquids, which allows to obtain 10–12 nm nanoparticles with high crystallinity. The results show noticeable differences between bulk and nanocrystalline YVO4:Eu in photoluminescence experimental data, which explains by influence of the nanocrystal surface. A YF3 core-shell layer around YVO4:Eu nanoparticles partially recovers the intensity of the E…

Time-resolved cathodoluminescence and photoluminescence of nanoscale oxides

The nanostructured oxide materials such as ZnO, ZrO2, and Y3Al5O12 (YAG) are perspective materials for transparent scintillating and/or laser ceramics. The luminescence properties of single crystals, nanopowders and ceramic were compared. Nominally pure and rare-earth doped nanopowders and ceramics have been studied by means of time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy. The fast blue luminescence band was studied in ZnO ceramics sintering from different raw materials. The luminescence centres of ZrO2:Y were compared in a single crystal, ceramic and nanopowder. It is shown that ceramic sintering parameters have a strong influence on time-resolved luminescence characteristics in cerium-doped YA…

Luminescence and ultraviolet excitation spectroscopy of SrI2 and SrI2:Eu2+

Abstract We report measurements of luminescence and its ultraviolet excitation spectra in SrI2 and SrI2:Eu2+ at temperatures of 10 and 300 K. Attention is focused on determining the exciton energy and its temperature shift from features of the excitation spectra and limits placed by absorption spectroscopy on a 120 μm thin crystal, on observation of a broadened Eu emission band attributed to trace Eu associated with oxygen in nominally undoped crystals, and on adding observations concerning the 3.4 eV band at low temperature attributed by Pustovarov et al. to the self-trapped exciton.

Polar nanoregions in Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 (PMN): insights from a supercell approach

Abstract We report construction of a model of polar nanoregions in the PMN relaxor ferroelectric based on first-principles lattice dynamics for chemically ordered supercells [S.A. Prosandeev et al., Phys. Rev. B 70, 134110 (2004)], combined with invariance under permutations and dipole-dipole interaction as a source supporting randomly oriented residual polarization. Representative analytical estimates of polar nanore-gion — supercell mapping reproduce both nonzero local and zero macroscopic polarization of the structure, as well as the temperature change of the supercell anisotropy at cooling and field cooling.

Time-Resolved Luminescence Characteristics of Cerium Doped YAG Nanocrystals

Time-resolved luminescence characteristics have been studied for cerium doped YAG nanopowders (NP) and nanostructured ceramics (NC). The results obtained have been compared to the luminescence characteristics for the well studied YAG:Ce3+ single crystal (SC). It was detected that the luminescence decay kinetics of Ce3+ related emission in nanocrystals can be closely approximated by two exponents, whereas a single exponential decay was observed in the single crystal. It was also found that the luminescence decay time and light yield of Ce3+ emission are strongly dependent on the cerium concentration and an unusual concentration quenching of Ce3+ emission was observed in YAG nanocrystals. The…

The Model for Luminescence Center Excitation in PbWO4

Untangling the controversy on Ce3+luminescence in LaAlO3crystals

The work was supported by the Czech Science Foundation project no. 18-14789S and by Operational Programme Research, Development and Education financed by European Structural and Investment Funds and the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (Project No. SOLID21 CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000760). We acknowledge MAX IV Laboratory for time on Beamline FinEstBeAMS under Proposal 20180572. The research leading to this result was supported by the project CALIPSOplus under the Grant Agreement 730872 from the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020. The Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia as the Center of Excellence has received funding from the H…

First Principles Calculations of Atomic and Electronic Structure of TiAl3+- and TiAl2+-Doped YAlO3

In this paper, the density functional theory accompanied with linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) method is applied to study the atomic and electronic structure of the Ti3+ and Ti2+ ions substituted for the host Al atom in orthorhombic Pbnm bulk YAlO3 crystals. The disordered crystalline structure of YAlO3 was modelled in a large supercell containing 160 atoms, allowing simulation of a substitutional dopant with a concentration of about 3%. In the case of the Ti2+-doped YAlO3, compensated F-center (oxygen vacancy with two trapped electrons) is inserted close to the Ti to make the unit cell neutral. Changes of the interatomic distances and angles between the chemical bonds in the de…

Selective Disintegration–Milling to Obtain Metal-Rich Particle Fractions from E-Waste

This research was supported by ERDF project no. 1.1.1.1/20/A/139 “Development of sustainable recycling technology of electronic scrap for precious and non-ferrous metals extraction”. The project was co-financed by REACT-EU funding to mitigate the effects of the pandemic crisis. The article was published with the financial support from the Riga Technical University Research Support Fund. This research was also supported by the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia as the Center of Excellence has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Program H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017-TeamingPhase2 under grant agreement No. 739508, project CAMART2. The authors w…

Oxygen influence on luminescence properties of rare-earth doped NaLaF 4

Abstract Luminescence properties of erbium and europium doped NaLaF4 with different oxygen content have been studied. Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) excitation luminescence spectroscopy technique has been applied by using synchrotron radiation excitation. It was found that oxygen impurity leads to significant degradation of Er3+ or Eu3+ emission under VUV excitation. The intensive O2−–Er3+ charge transfer excitation band has been detected from oxygen abundant NaLaF4 in the 150–165 nm spectral range. This band reveals a competing absorption mechanism in oxygen containing NaLaF4. It is clearly demonstrated that one reason for the Er3+ emission degradation in oxygen abundant NaLaF4 is strong suppres…

First Principles Calculations of Atomic and Electronic Structure of Ti3+Al- and Ti2+Al-Doped YAlO3

M.G.B. appreciates support from the Chongqing Recruitment Program for 100 Overseas Innovative Talents (grant no. 2015013), the Program for the Foreign Experts (grant no. W2017011), Wenfeng High-end Talents Project (grant no. W2016-01) offered by the Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications (CQUPT), Estonian Research Council grant PUT PRG111, European Regional Development Fund (TK141), and NCN project 2018/31/B/ST4/00924. This study was supported by a grant from Latvian Research Council No. LZP-2018/1-0214 (for AIP). Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia as the Center of Excellence has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Program H202…

Luminescence Properties and Energy Transfer Processes in Nanosized Cerium Doped YAG

Luminescence properties of cerium doped Y3Al5O12 (YAG) nanocrystals in form of nanopowders and nanoceramics have been studied. The comparative analysis of luminescence characteristics for nano- and single-crystals has been done. It was detected that an excitonic mechanism of the energy transfer from the host lattice to cerium ions does not work in nanopowders and nanoceramics. It was also shown that antisite-related and self-trapped exciton-related luminescence bands are suppressed strongly in nanopowders, and it can be excited only under certain circumstances. These bands practically disappeared in the nanoceramic samples. It was suggested that nanoparticle's surface, which is an efficient…

Transient absorption and luminescence of LiNbO3 and KNbO3

Abstract The results of time-resolved optical absorption spectra in congruent and stoichiometric LiNbO3 as well as KNbO3 crystals are reported. The role of different polaron types in transient absoiption and luminescence spectra and decay kinetics are discussed.

Ab-Initio Calculations of Oxygen Vacancy in Ga2O3 Crystals

The research has been funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Grant No. AP08856540). J. Purans and A.I.Popov acknowledge the ERAF project 1.1.1.1/20/A/057 “Functional Ultrawide Bandgap Gallium Oxide and Zinc Gallate Thin Films and Novel Deposition Technologies”. The Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia (Latvia) as the Centre of Excellence has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme H2020-WIDESPREAD01-2016-2017-Teaming Phase2 under grant agreement No. 739508, project CAMART2.

Exciton emission and defect formation in yttrium trifluoride

Two intrinsic emission bands at 220 and 280 nm have been detected in nominally pure YF3 powders at 10 K. Excitation spectra for both emissions have a sharp peak at 12 eV near the edge of interband transition. Observed emissions are assigned to the radiative decay of self-trapped excitons in YF3. The strong thermal quenching of intrinsic luminescence was observed at temperature above 120 K. It was supposed that non-radiative decay of self-trapped exciton at high temperatures lead to defect formation in YF3. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Luminescence of ferroelectric crystals: LiNbO3and KNbO3

Abstract The thermostimulated luminescence and time-resolved luminescence of LiNbO3 (congruent, stoichiometric, Eu−, Mn−, or Cr−doped) and KNbO3 crystals (undoped, Fe−, or Mn− doped) excited by X-ray, pulsed nitrogen laser or pulsed electron beam were studied. The luminescence decay times of niobium-oxygen groups (regular or perturbed by defect or impurity) were obtained. It is shown that the energy transfer from bulk to the activator in LiNbO3 is not effective during the electron-hole recombination process.

Blue luminescence in ZnO single crystals, nanopowders, ceramic

The luminescence spectra and luminescence decay processes were studied in a ZnO single crystal, nanopowders and ceramic at liquid helium and room temperature under VUV synchrotron radiation as well as under pulsed laser excitation. The exciton-exciton and exciton-multiphonon processes were compared in different ZnO nanopowders (commercial powder, powders obtained by vaporization-condensation technique) and ceramic. The possibility of luminescence decay time modification by Al3+ doping was shown.

Transient absorption spectra and relaxation kinetics in Nb-doped PbWO4 scintillating crystals

Abstract The spectra and relaxation kinetics of absorption induced by a pulsed electron beam were studied for undoped and Nb-doped PbWO 4 single crystals. A significant influence of Nb doping on transient absorption was found. The influence of Nb doping on the relaxation kinetics is proposed to be due to an oxygen vacancy involving electron–hole recombination. A delay was observed (35– 50 ns ) between the growth of F-centers and the irradiation pulse. A large portion of the F-centers decays within ∼16 μs due to recombination with mobile holes. The prolonged recombination processes are responsible for the decrease of the scintillation yield in PbWO 4 : Nb crystals.

Transient and near‐edge absorption in YVO 4 crystals

The process of near-edge absorption annealing in air was studied up to 1500C in YVO4. In this annealing process, two stages with activation energies of 0.16 eV and 0.38 eV were obtained. (Should combine to make this one paragraph)In addition to the annealing study, the transient absorption induced by pulsed electron beam excitation (270 keV, 8 ns) was completed on a set of YVO4 samples with different near-edge absorption levels in the spectral region 3.2-3.5 eV. The spectral range from ∼1.25 eV up to 3.0 eV is covered by strong transient absorption. Transient absorption spectra show at least three broad overlapping bands (∼1.3 eV, ∼2.0 eV and ∼3.0 eV). The 3 eV peak position is close to the…

The study of time-resolved absorption and luminescence in PbWO4 crystals

Abstract The transient absorption and luminescence under pulsed electron beam excitation were studied for undoped and La3+ doped PbWO4 crystals. The absorption band at ∼1.0 eV is suggested to be due to self-trapped electrons and the absorption band at 3.5 eV may be due to self-trapped holes. The formation of luminescence centers via electron–hole recombination is affected by La3+ in doped crystals. The large fraction of electrons and holes undergoes thermostimulated recombination within geminate pairs and the spatial separation of geminate pairs components is important in recombination process. The intrinsic (blue) luminescence arises in this recombination. The mechanism of La3+ influence o…

Mechanism for energy transfer processes between Ce3+ and Tb3+ in LaPO4:Ce,Tb nanocrystals by time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy

The energy transfer mechanisms between Ce 3+ and Tb 3+ in LaPO 4 :Ce,Tb nanocrystals have been studied by means of time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy in a wide temperature range (10-300K). Special attention was paid to detailed comparative analysis of both rise and decay emission components of both Ce 3+ and Tb 3+ . Surprisingly, a relatively slow rise (several microseconds) of Tb 3+ emission under 266-nm laser excitation was detected, which corresponds to the 4f-5d transition of Ce 3+ in LaPO 4 . It was shown that this rise of Tb 3+ emission could not have arisen due to relaxation of Ce 3+ ions, whose excited state has a lifetime of about 20ns. It was demonstrated that the generally a…

Progress in development of a new luminescence setup at the FinEstBeAMS beamline of the MAX IV laboratory

The main funding for the FinEstBeAMS beamline has been obtained from the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (project “Estonian beamline to MAX-IV synchrotron”, granted to the University of Tartu) and from the Academy of Finland through the Finnish Research Infrastructure funding projects ( FIRI2010 , FIRI2013 , FIRI2014 ). The authors also acknowledge the funding contributions of the University of Oulu , University of Turku , Tampere University of Technology , the Estonian Research Council ( IUT 2-25 , IUT 2-26 , PRG-111 ), as well as the Estonian Centre of Excellence in Research “Advanced materials and high-technology devices for sustainable energetics, sensorics…

Vacancy Defects in Ga2O3: First-Principles Calculations of Electronic Structure

This research was funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Grant No. AP08856540) as well as by the Latvian research council via the Latvian National Research Program under the topic ?High-Energy Physics and Accelerator Technologies?, Agreement No: VPP-IZM-CERN-2020/1-0002 for A.I. Popov. In addition, J. Purans is grateful to the ERAF project 1.1.1.1/20/A/057 while A. Platonenko was supported by Latvian Research Council No. LZP-2018/1-0214. The authors thank A. Lushchik and M. Lushchik for many useful discussions. The research was (partly) performed in the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia ISSP UL. ISSP UL as…

Luminescence of ODC(II) in quartz and cristobalite glasses

Abstract The results of the optical spectroscopy of twofold coordinated silicon centers – ODC(II) in quartz and cristobalite glasses are presented. The luminescence and excitation spectra attributed to different local symmetry of ODC(II) were investigated under synchrotron excitation in the VUV region. The observed differences in the luminescence and excitation spectra of ODC(II) are caused by the environment and, therefore, short-range order in the samples.

Transient Optical Absorption and Luminescence in Calcium Tungstate Crystal

Synchrotron radiation studies on luminescence of Eu2+-doped LaCl3 microcrystals embedded in a NaCl matrix

Abstract LaCl3:Eu2+ microcrystals dispersed in the NaCl matrix have been obtained in the NaCl–LaCl3(1 mol.%)–EuCl3(0.1 mol.%) crystalline system. The low-temperature luminescent properties of these microcrystals have been studied upon the VUV and UV excitation by the synchrotron radiation. The spectroscopic parameters as well as decay time constants of Eu2+-doped LaCl3 host have been established. The excitation mechanism of divalent europium centers through energy transfer and reabsorption is discussed.

Iron-related luminescence centers in ZnWO 4 :Fe

A systematic spectroscopic study of single ZnWO4 :Fe crystals with different iron concentrations has been performed under excitation by ultraviolet light, by synchrotron radiation or under photostimulation by near-infrared light. The luminescence of Fe3+-related centres has been studied. It is shown that iron centres of different types efficiently promote the formation of crystal defects at low temperatures. Electrons and holes can be trapped near Fe2+ or Fe3+ ions, which is further revealed in phosphorescence, thermostimulated or photostimulated luminescence. At room temperature the main effect of iron impurity is to reduce the light yield of a ZnWO4 scintillator.

Emerging blue-UV luminescence in cerium doped YAG nanocrystals

Physica status solidi / Rapid research letters 10(6), 475 - 479(2016). doi:10.1002/pssr.201600041

Stable and transient color centers in Gd3Ga5O12 crystals

The work is devoted to investigation of stable color centers (CC) that are created in Gd3Ga5O12 (GGG) crystals under irradiation with γ-quanta (E = 1.25 MeV, D = 105 Gy ) as well as transient CC created in the crystals under irradiation with pulsed electron beam (E = 0.25 MeV, pulse duration 10 ns, fluence 1012 cm-2, time interval of registration 0-500 ns). On the basis of the performed study of optical absorption spectra of the as-grown and irradiated crystals it was established the correlation between a defect subsystem of as-grown crystals and a type of CC induced by radiation in the crystals. The role of Ca2+ dopant ions in the processes of CC formation is examined. Models of the stable…

Experimental and theoretical studies of polaron optical properties in KNbO3 perovskite

Time-resolved absorption and luminescence spectra have been measured in KNbO3 perovskite crystals after pulsed band-gap excitation by 200 fs laser pulses and 10 ns electron pulses. Quantum chemical calculations using the large unit cell periodic model support the interpretation of the observed transient absorption bands at 0.8 and 1.1 eV as the self-trapped electron polarons and bound hole polarons, respectively. The activation energy for the 2.2 eV green luminescence quenching is 0.05 eV. We suggest that the short lifetime (,15 ns) of the luminescence at RT is caused by the radiative recombination of nearest electron and hole polarons. q 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Luminescence center excited state absorption in tungstates

The excited state absorption of intrinsic luminescence center (self-trapped exciton) in tungstates (CaWO4, ZnWO4, PbWO4 and CdWO4) was studied. The transient absorption and luminescence spectra, decay kinetics and lifetime dependencies on temperature have been measured. The model of self-trapped exciton and nature of observed absorption bands were discussed.

Luminescence and vacuum ultraviolet excitation spectroscopy of cerium doped Gd3Ga3Al2O12 single crystalline scintillators under synchrotron radiation excitations

Authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Latvian Science Council grant LZP-2018/2-0358 . The research leading to this result has been supported by the project CALIPSO plus under the Grant Agreement 730872 from the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON2020 . The work of A.P.K. was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation , state contracts No. 11.6181.2017/ITR .

Transient color centers in GGG crystals

Electron pulse induced absorption and their decay kinetics have been investigated in samples of GGG crystals with different starting absorption spectra. It is shown that for all samples there appears a wide transient absorption (TA) band with two maxima in the region 14,000-17,000 v cm m 1 and 22,000-26,000 v cm m 1 . TA decay kinetics measurements in 14,000 v cm m 1 and 22,000 v cm m 1 are two-exponential (with half-time order several tens and several hundreds ns). Analyzing the obtained results, we can suppose that low and high energy TA bands are connected with the F + (or O m ) and F transient color centers (TCC) respectively.

Excitonic luminescence in ZnO nanopowders and ceramics

Abstract Fast photoluminescence spectra in the spectral region of 3.1–3.45 eV in ZnO and ZnO:Al ceramics were studied at 14 and 300 K. Ceramics with grains smaller than 100 nm were sintered from nanopowders by high pressure (8 GPa) and low temperature (350 °C). Ceramics with grain sizes 1–5 μm were sintered at 1400 °C. It is shown that excitonic luminescence spectra depend on the ceramics grain size, post preparing annealing and doping. The excitonic luminescence decay time was faster than 2 ns and the afterglow at 30 ns was ∼0.05%.

Si nanocrystals embedded in $SiO_2$: Optical studies in the vacuum ultraviolet range

Photoluminescence excitation and transmission spectra of Si nanocrystals of different diameters embeddedin a SiO2 matrix have been investigated in the broad visible-vacuum ultraviolet spectral range usingsynchrotron radiation. The dependence of the photoluminescence excitation spectra on the nanocrystals sizewas experimentally established. It is shown that the photoluminescence excitation and absorption spectra aresignificantly blueshifted with decreasing Si nanocrystal size. A detailed comparison of photoluminescenceexcitation and absorption spectra with data from theoretical modeling has been done. It is demonstrated thatthe experimentally determined blueshift of the photoluminescence exc…

Luminescence of divalent lanthanide doped BaBrI single crystal under synchrotron radiation excitations

Abstract Luminescence excitation spectra of BaBrI single crystals doped by divalent lanthanide ions are studied using synchrotron radiation excitations from the MAX IV 1.5 GeV storage ring. The energy of the edge and the formation of core cation exciton as well as the energy threshold of the multiplications of electronic excitations is found. It was clearly established the energy transfer from intrinsic luminescence centers to Sm2+ and Eu2+ ions.

Luminescence Properties of ZnO Nanocrystals and Ceramics

The luminescence excitation spectra, luminescence spectra and the nanosecond-scale decay kinetics were studied. The ZnO and ZnO:Al nanopowders were prepared by vaporization-condensation in a solar furnace using different raw powders: commercial, hydrothermal and those obtained by plasma synthesis. Exciton-phonon as well as exciton-exciton interaction processes in nanopowders, a bulk crystal and ZnO ceramics were studied and compared. The fast decay and low afterglow intensity of ZnO nanopowders and ceramics support these materials for scintillators.

The role of Fe and Cu dopants in electron–hole trapping and relaxation process in congruent LiNbO3

Abstract The transient optical absorption and kinetics of absorption decay is studied in undoped, Fe doped, and Cu doped LiNbO 3 crystals irradiated by pulsed electron beam. The 1.6 eV band of electron polaron trapped at antisite niobium was observed in all crystal samples. The nature of centers responsible for transient absorption is discussed. Electron polarons are shown to be less stable in LiNbO 3 :Fe compared with LiNbO 3 :Cu and undoped LiNbO 3 . It is suggested that a major part of electrons and holes created by irradiation are trapped in the vicinity of dopants.

Electronic excitations in ZnWO4 and ZnxNi1−x WO4 (x = 0.1 − 0.9) using VUV synchrotron radiation

The photoluminescence spectra and luminescence excitation spectra of pure microcrystalline and nano-sized ZnWO4 as well as the Zn x Ni1−x WO4 solid solutions were studied using vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) synchrotron radiation. The samples were also characterized by x-ray powder diffraction. We found that: (i) the shape of the photoluminescence band at 2.5 eV, being due to radiative electron transitions within the [WO6]6− anions, becomes modulated by the optical absorption of Ni2+ ions in the Zn x Ni1−x WO4 solid solutions; and (ii) no significant change in the excitation spectra of Zn0.9Ni0.1WO4 is observed compared to pure ZnWO4. At the same time, a shift of the excitonic bands to smaller en…

Luminescence of biexcitons in silver halide crystals

Abstract As it is known from Urbach rule, free excitons defining the fundamental absorption edge in AgBr 1 − x Cl x (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 1). The process of primary Frenkel defect creation which involves free exciton states even in AgCl and biexciton creation in AgCl are discussed. The fast luminescence band at ≈3.0 eV observed in AgCl under high-density pulsed electron beam and laser excitation has been studied. It is shown that its intensity is a non-linear function of the excitation density. We suggest that the fast luminescence comes from biexcitons; binding energies of such biexcitons in AgBr 1 − x Cl x (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 1) are estimated.

Induced optical absorption and ITS relaxation in LiNbO3

Abstract Electron pulse induced absorption spectra and their decay kinetics have been investigated in LiNbO3 crystals with various Li/Nb ratios rasnging from congruent to stoichiometric composition. It is shown that the absorption spectra, the optical density and the decay kinetics depend on the Li/Nb ratio. The rising front of the induced absorption is too fast to be resolved. The room temperature decay, characterized by the half-lifetime Δt, is faster in the stoichiometric crystal (∼ 750 ns) than in the congrruent crystal (∼ 3.5 μs).

Comparative study of the luminescence properties of macro- and nanocrystalline MgO using synchrotron radiation

MgO nano-powder with an average crystallite size of nanoparticles ranging 10-15 nm was synthesized using the extractive-pyrolytic method and was studied by room temperature VUV spectroscopy under synchrotron radiation excitation. Comparative analysis of their luminescent properties with that of mac- rocrystalline powder analogues and an MgO single crystal, grown by the arc-fusion method, has been per- formed under excitation by pulsed VUV synchrotron radiation. Special attention was paid to VUV spectral range, which is not reachable with commonly used lamp and laser sources. A considerable blue shift of about 0.3 eV in the excitation spectra of 2.95 eV emission band, was revealed in nanocry…

Luminescence of nano- and macrosized LaPO4:Ce,Tb excited by synchrotron radiation

Abstract Comparing the luminescence properties of nanosized and macroscopic LaPO4:Ce,Tb powders are performed in wide spectral range using synchrotron radiation. In the present study, LaPO4:Ce,Tb nanopowder was produced by means of a microwave-induced synthesis in ionic liquids, whereas the bulk sample represents a commercial lamp phosphor. Emission and excitation of both, Ce3+ and Tb3+ luminescence, is observed to be different when comparing bulk and nanosized LaPO4:Ce,Tb. In particular, it was shown that the fine structure of the Ce3+ as well as the Tb3+ related emission is poorly resolved for the nanomaterial. It is suggested that the nanoparticles surface plays a key role regarding the …

Band Gap Engineering and Trap Depths of Intrinsic Point Defects in RAlO3 (R = Y, La, Gd, Yb, Lu) Perovskites

The work was supported by the Polish National Science Centre (Project No. 2018/31/B/ST8/00774), by the NATO SPS Project G5647, and by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (Project DB/Kinetyka no. 0119U002249). L.V. acknowledges support of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine under Grant No. 2020.02/0373 “Crystalline phosphors’ engineering for biomedical applications, energy saving lighting and contactless thermometry”. Researchers from Tartu were supported by the ERDF fundings in Estonia granted to the Centre of Excellence TK141 “Advanced materials and high-technology devices for sustainable energetics, sensorics and nanoelectronics (HiTechDevices)” (Grant No. 2014-2020.4…

Pulsed electron beam excited transient absorption in SrTiO3

Abstract Transient absorption (TA) spectra and optical density relaxation kinetics in SrTiO3 (STO), STO–Nb and STO–V were studied. The electron polaron free or bound at intrinsic defect is suggested to be responsible for the TA band at ∼1.4 eV observed in STO. The band peaking below 0.75 eV in STO–Nb is proposed to be from Nb4+. The electron center V3+ or electron polaron bound in the vicinity of V4+ is responsible for the absorption band at 1.0 eV in STO–V. The absorption from hole polarons is suggested to be in the range 1.8–2.3 eV. It is shown that TA in pure STO at room temperature decays due to electron–hole polaron recombination.

Numerical Evidences of Polarization Switching in PMN Type Relaxor Ferroelectrics

We present a conceptual and computational framework for chemically ordered Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 O 3) (PMN) type supercells violating disorder of the host lattice. The effective Hamiltonian is specified by invariance under permutations of supercells and by the dipole-dipole interaction supporting both local nonzero and zero mean polarization of the structure. Statistics treated in canonical ensemble within the mean field approach reveals emergence of polar nanoregions as supported by interplay between the (random) initial state polarization of supercells and their interactions increased at cooling.

Low-temperature luminescence of ScF3 single crystals under excitation by VUV synchrotron radiation

The work was supported by the Latvian Science Council grant LZP-2018/2-0358. The research leading to this result has also been supported by the project CALIPSO plus under the Grant Agreement 730872 from the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020. The author is grateful to K. Chernenko (MAX IV Laboratory, Lund University) for his assistance during beamtime experiments and to A. I. Popov for the fruitful discussions. V.P. also acknowledges Valsts pētījumu programma “Augstas enerģijas fizika un paātrinātāju tehnoloģijas” (Projekta Nr. VPP-IZM-CERN-2020/1-0002). REFERENCES

BiI3 nanoclusters in melt-grown CdI2 crystals studied by optical absorption spectroscopy

Optical absorption spectroscopy of CdI2–BiI3 layered crystals has been performed in the temperature range of 77–300 K. The main absorption, observed in these crystals at 2.59 eV is related to quantum confined exciton absorption of bimolecular BiI3 cluster. Low energy absorption peaks at 2.38 eV, 2.06 eV and 1.94 eV can be tentatively assigned to larger clusters composed of 4, 6 or more BiI3 molecules. In ultra-thin samples of CdI2–BiI3 several bands at 2.84 eV, 3.03 eV and 3.27 eV were observed which are ascribed to higher excited states of the excitons in bimolecular BiI3 cluster.

X-RAY PHOTOEMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPE DETERMINATION OF ORIGINS OF ROOM TEMPERATURE FERROMAGNETISM AND PHOTOLUMINESCENCE IN HIGHCo-CONTENTCoxZn1-xOFILMS

In this paper, we reported on the X-ray photoemission electron microscope (XPEEM) determination of magnetic and luminescence origins for two CoxZn1-xO films. The cobalt fraction x of radio frequency co-sputtered samples were 0.86(2) and 0.92(2), respectively. Films were ferromagnetic and semiconductive. Unique narrow green color lines beside the ZnO intrinsic emissions were found with a decay time in microsecond range at room temperature. Origins of magnetic and luminescence properties were determined with XPEEM. The X-ray absorption near edge structure at the Co  L3-edge denoted that Co was partially oxidized, and phase-contrast images together with chemical composition identification furt…

Toward On-Line Slag Composition Analysis: Optical Emissions from Laboratory Electric Arc

We acknowledge the support of Research Fund for Coal and Steel under grant agreement No. 709923, Academy of Finland for Genome of Steel grant No. 311934, Business Finland for Grant No. 4478/31/2019, Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia as the Center of Excellence has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017-TeamingPhase2 under grant agreement No. 739508, project CAMART2.

Theoretical and experimental study of primary radiation defects in KNbO3 perovskite crystals

Abstract The results of large-scale computer simulations of point defects – F-type electron centers and hole polarons bound to a potassium vacancy – in perovskite KNbO3 crystals are presented. One-site polarons and two-site (molecular) polarons are expected to coexist, both are characterized by close absorption energies around 1 eV. The transient absorption spectra and decay kinetics observed after ns-pulsed electron beam irradiation have been measured for different KNbO3 crystals. The relaxation kinetics of the optical density vary considerably for different impurity concentrations and sample stoichiometries. Experimental data are discussed in the light of the presented calculations.

Low-temperature luminescence of CdI2 under synchrotron radiation

Synchrotron radiation is applied to study visible and UV luminescence spectra and their excitation spectra of undoped as well as In and Sb doped cadmium iodide crystals at 10 K. The origin of principal luminescence bands and the role of impurities in the formation of emission centers are discussed. The luminescence properties have been explained based on the electronic structure of CdI2 crystals.

Study of the Effect of Two Phases in Li4SiO4–Li2SiO3 Ceramics on the Strength and Thermophysical Parameters

This research was funded by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan (No. BR11765580). The research of the team from Latvia (A.M., V.P. and A.I.P.) has been carried out within the framework of the EUROfusion Consortium, funded by the European Union via the Euratom Research and Training Programme (Grant Agreement No. 101052200—EUROfusion). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them. The research was partly (A.M., V.P. and A.I.P.) performed in …

Peculiarities of luminescent properties of cerium doped YAG transparent nanoceramics

Abstract Optical and luminescence properties of transparent nanosized cerium doped Y 3 Al 5 O 12 (YAG:Ce) ceramics have been studied. YAG:Ce nanoceramics were obtained by means of low temperature and high pressure (LTHP) sintering method. Nanoceramic samples were sintered in the 2–8 GPa pressure range, whereas Ce 3+ concentration was varied in the 0.5–5 at. % range. It is shown that, in contrast to the single crystal, a strong rise of absorption coefficient was detected already at wavelength shorter than 400 nm in all nanoceramic samples studied. Furthermore, in nanoceramic samples unusual UV emission band near 3.1 eV was observed, which is not observed in the YAG:Ce single crystal. High pr…

Exciton interaction with Ce3+ and Ce4+ ions in (LuGd)3(Ga,Al)5O12 ceramics

The authors acknowledge the expert help of the staff of MAX IV Laboratory. The research leading to this result has been supported by the project CALIPSOplus under the Grant Agreement 730872 from the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020. I.V. acknowledges the support of Russian Foundation for Basic Research # 20-52-S52001.

Study of phase composition, photocatalytic activity, and photoluminescence of TiO2 with Eu additive produced by the extraction-pyrolytic method

The Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia as the Center of Excellence has received funding from the H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017-TeamingPhase2 under grant agreement No. 739508, project CAMART2. The work was also partially supported by the LZP grant 2020/2-0074. R. Burve has been supported by the project “Synthesis of nanostructured materials based on titanium dioxide and tin dioxide and investigation of their physicochemical properties” Nr. MP-2019/7, for strengthening scientific personnel capacity 2019/2020 at the Riga Technical University. Authors are grateful to Dr. K. Šmits for the microscopic measurements and SEM images.

Relaxation of electronic excitations in strontium titanate

The transient absorption spectra and kinetics were studied for undoped, lead doped and high purity SrTiO 3 single crystals. The pulsed electron beam induced transient absorption is studied in all crystals. The strong absorption at 0.8 v eV was observed only in high purity SrTiO 3 . This absorption is suggested to arise from intrinsic electron polaron. The bound electron polarons are likely responsible for absorption band at 1.4 v eV. The main luminescence band under excitation pulse is observed at 2.75 v eV. The luminescence decay is faster than that of transient absorption.

Defect-related photoluminescence and photoluminescence excitation as a method to study the excitonic bandgap of AlN epitaxial layers: Experimental and ab initio analysis

We report defect-related photoluminescence (PL) and its vacuum ultraviolet photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra of aluminum nitride layers with various layer thicknesses and dislocation densities grown on two different substrates: sapphire and silicon. The defect-related transitions have been distinguished and examined in the emission and excitation spectra investigated under synchrotron radiation. The broad PL bands of two defect levels in the AlN were detected at around 3 eV and 4 eV. In the PLE spectra of these bands, a sharp excitonic peak originating most probably from the A-exciton of AlN was clearly visible. Taking into account the exciton binding energy, the measurements allow…

Performance and characterization of the FinEstBeAMS beamline at the MAX IV Laboratory

European Regional Development Fund (grant No. TK-141 HiTechDevices 2014-2020.4.01.15-0011 to University of Tartu; grant No. MAX-TEENUS 2014-2020.4.01.20-0278 to University of Tartu; grant No. Eesti Kiirekanal SLOFY11156T/1 to University of Tartu); Estonian Research Council (grant No. PRG-629 to University of Tartu); Jane & Aatos Erkko Foundation (grant No. SOFUS); Business Finland (grant No. 1464/31/2019); Academy of Finland (grant No. 319042; grant No. 326461; grant No. 326406; grant No. 320165); University of Oulu; University of Turku; Tampere University; University of Tartu.

The energy transfer to the luminescence centers in PbWO4

Abstract The luminescence spectra, rise and decay kinetics and the yield of luminescence in undoped PbWO 4 crystals were studied after pulsed electron beam irradiation. The luminescence intensity rise observed after irradiation pulse showed two mechanisms—excitonic relaxation and electron–hole recombination—were involved in the formation of the excited states of the blue luminescence centers. It is proposed that the excited states of WO 3 and WO 2− 4 luminescence centers were formed from some intermediate metastable state.

Relaxation of electronic excitations in LiNbO3crystals

Transient absorption both in stoichiometric and Mg doped congruent LiNbO was observed after pulsed electron beam excitation. The luminescence spectra and decay kinetics in these materials show different excitonic relaxation possibilities. The dependence on sample stoichiometry is also discussed.

Time-resolved luminescence and excitation spectroscopy of co-doped Gd3Ga3Al2O12 scintillating crystals

The work of Viktorija Pankratova was supported by the Latvian Science Council grant LZP-2018/2-0358. Vladimir Pankratov gratefully acknowledges the financial support from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation in the framework of Increase Competitiveness Program of NUST «MISiS» (Grant No. К3-2018-021). The research leading to this result has also been supported by the project CALIPSO plus under the Grant Agreement 730872 from the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020. Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia as the Center of Excellence has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme H2020-WIDESP…

Low-temperature luminescence of catangasite single crystals under excitation by vacuum ultraviolet synchrotron radiation

The luminescent properties of Ca3TaGa3Si2O14 (CTGS, catangasite) single crystals have been studied by means of the vacuum ultraviolet excitation spectroscopy utilizing synchrotron radiation from 1.5 GeV storage ring of MAX IV synchrotron facility. Two emission bands at 320 nm (3.87 eV) and 445 nm (2.78 eV) have been detected. Examining excitation spectra in vacuum ultraviolet spectral range, the 320 nm emission band was explained as the emission band of self-trapped exciton in CTGS single crystal. Its atomic structure is discussed. It is also proposed that the 445 nm (2.78 eV) emission in the CTGS is due to the F centers, which have shown a well-resolved excitation (absorption) band at 5.1 …

Luminescence and transient absorption in ZnWO4 and ZnWO4–Fe crystals

Abstract The transient absorption spectra and relaxation kinetics under pulse electron beam excitation in ZnWO 4 and ZnWO 4 –Fe, as well as luminescence spectra and decay kinetics, were studied. It is shown that a fraction of transient absorption is due to luminescence center excited state. The energy transfer from intrinsic excitations to the defect or impurity states is not efficient. The role of Fe-impurities in the decay process is discussed.

Time-resolved spectroscopy of ZnWO4

The luminescence spectra of ZnWO 4 excited by a pulsed electron beam, pulsed nitrogen laser and X-ray are studied. The luminescence decay kinetics are compared with transient absorption relaxation kinetics. Broad band transient absorption spectra are observed and it is shown that the slow decay component (∼14 μs at RT) of the transient absorption matches well with the luminescence decay therefore this absorption is due to the excited state absorption of the luminescence center.

Luminescence spectroscopy under synchrotron radiation: From SUPERLUMI to FINESTLUMI

Abstract Luminescence spectroscopy under synchrotron radiation excitation is the unique tool for materials characterization. In the current work we are reporting recent activity in this research field implemented in the Finnish-Estonian beamline (FinEstBeAMS) which is installed at the 1.5 GeV storage ring of the MAX IV Laboratory at Lund, Sweden. It has been designed to cover an unusually wide energy range from ultraviolet (4.3 eV) to soft X-rays (1500 eV), which is perfectly suited for luminescence spectroscopy experiments. The past development and the present technical parameters of the luminescence experimental stations FINESTLUMI of FinEstBeAMS beamline are described. The comparison of …

Luminescence of cerium doped YAG nanopowders

Abstract Cerium doped YAG nanopowders with grain size ∼ 20 nm have been synthesized by co-precipitation method. Time-resolved luminescence characteristics have been studied. The results obtained have been compared with the luminescence characteristics for well-studied YAG single crystals. In contrast to cerium doped YAG crystals, cerium doped nanocrystal does not reveal luminescence bands due to antisite defects under electron beam pulse and X-ray excitations at 80–300 K temperature range. It was detected that decay kinetic of Ce 3 + related emission in the nanocrystal can be approximated by two exponents with time constants ∼ 9 and ∼ 47 ns at 290 K. It is faster than single exponential dec…

Time resolved luminescence spectroscopy of CsPbBr3 single crystal

Abstract The work reports the results of spectroscopic and luminescence-kinetic studies of CsPbBr3 single crystal over 14–300 K temperature range. It is shown that at low temperatures the luminescence spectrum contains three narrow bands at 534, 537, and 541.5 nm exhibiting a fast decay and a broad emission band at ca. 560 nm with long decay. The evolution of the luminescence bands and their temporal characteristics with temperature are discussed from the viewpoint of possible emission mechanisms. The origin of the luminescence bands is discussed in relation with the observed features of their temporal characteristics. The mechanism of luminescence quenching for different emission band is s…

Transient and stable color centers in pure and Cu-doped LiNbO3

The present work is devoted to investigation of stable and transient color centers that are induced by radiation and temperature in pure and Cu-doped LiNbO 3 single crystals. The transient changes of absorption of the crystals induced by pulsed electron beam (E=0.25 MeV) are studied in 0-5000 ns time range, as well as stable changes of absorption induced by reducing annealing and irradiation with γ-quanta, high energy electrons or fast reactor neutrons.

Intrinsic luminescence and energy transfer processes in pure and doped YVO 4 crystals

Luminescence properties of nominally pure and neodymium doped YVO4 single crystals have been studied by means of time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy technique. It was detected that, besides the main well-known blue excitonic emission band near 2.8 eV, an additional UV emission band at ∼3.1 eV appears in the spectra of intrinsic luminescence at low temperatures (∼80 K) for all crystals studied. Decay time of the UV band is much faster in comparison with the blue one and the UV band is quenched at temperatures above 150 K. Origin of the UV emission band is discussed. A significant rise front was observed in the relaxation kinetics of Nd3+ emission under band-to-band excitation. The time c…

Transient absorption of polarons in KNbO3

Abstract Transient absorption spectra have been measured in a number of undoped KNbO 3 crystals following two kinds of electronic excitation: two-photon absorption of 200 fs laser pulses and 10 ns pulsed electron beam. A band peaking at 0.8 eV and broad, poorly resolved absorption in the range 1.3–3.3 eV were observed. Based on similarity to the 1 eV band in LiNbO 3 previously identified as the intrinsic electron polaron (electron self-localized on niobium in the regular lattice site), we suggest that the transient absorption band at 0.8 eV in KNbO 3 is also associated with the intrinsic electron polaron.

Luminescence and vacuum ultraviolet excitation spectroscopy of samarium doped SrB4O7

Abstract Sm2+ and Sm3+ co-doped SrB4O7 could be utilized in several high-level optical devices and fundamental knowledge about the optical behavior of these materials benefits the development of luminescent applications. Herein, we report luminescence and its vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) excitation spectra in samarium doped SrB4O7. Both, Sm2+ and Sm3+ luminescence centers have been examined and distinguished in the emission and the excitation spectra investigated under synchrotron radiation. The contribution of either Sm2+ or Sm3+ emission lines into the emission spectra heavily depended on the excitation energy, and strong f-f transitions of both Sm2+ and Sm3+ were detected. At 10 K, a broad i…