Luminescence study of defects in synthetic as-grown and HPHT diamonds compared to natural diamonds

The optically active defects in as-grown, high-pressure high-temperature-treated (HPHT), boron-doped, and synthetic diamonds (SD) grown with a nitrogen-getter, as well as of natural diamonds (ND), were characterized by absorption and luminescence spectroscopies using different excitation sources. The laser-excited photoluminescence (PL) spectra of SDs show numerous sharp lines characteristic for nickel-related centers, whereas NDs yield mainly broad PL bands. The emission from the nickel-related defects in NIR range increases and the maxima of the bands shift to lower energies with increasing temperature. Under UV and electron beam excitation, the yellow synthetic diamonds display green lum…

Differentiation of natural and synthetic gem-quality diamonds by luminescence properties

Abstract Laser-excited time-resolved and UV-excited static photoluminescence (PL) as well as cathodoluminescence (CL) techniques were applied to identify the origin of diamonds. Samples represented natural faced and rough diamonds from diamond market and different kimberlites as well as the most common high pressure–high temperature (HPHT) and as-grown synthetic diamonds. The time-resolved PL spectra of natural and synthetic diamonds display clear mutual differences. The static PL and CL spectra of natural diamonds revealed emission bands caused by complex nitrogen–vacancy (N–V)-aggregates whereas the bands of synthetic diamonds reflect simple N–V-aggregates and nickel-containing defects. T…

Characterization of the non-stoichiometry in lanthanum oxyfluoride by FT-IR absorption, Raman scattering, X-ray powder diffraction and thermal analysis

Abstract The FT-IR absorption, FT-Raman scattering, X-ray powder diffraction (XPD), and thermogravimetry were used to explore the non-stoichiometry in LaOF. The TGA-DTA analyses between 30 and 1500°C showed that the LaO1 − xF1 + 2x phases yielded the stoichiometric LaOF as an intermediate product. The temperature of formation of the LaOF and La2O3 increased with increasing excess of fluoride. The room temperature XPD data in 6.5 ⩽ 2θ ⩽ 121° range were analyzed by the Rietveld profile refinement method and subsequently by the bond valence calculations. All LaO1 − xF1 + 2x phases possess the tetragonal PbFCl-type structure (space group: P4/nmm; Z = 2) while the stoichiometric LaOF has the hex…

Structural Modifications of Rb<sub>3</sub>RE(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub> Phases (RE = La, Gd, Y)

The Influence of User-Selected Models on the Results of the Rietveld Refinement of the LaOCl Structure

X-ray powder diffraction study of the stability of solid solutions in LaO(Cl1−xBrx)

Abstract The formation of solid solutions in the LaO(Cl 1− x Br x ) series was studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XPD), Rietveld profile refinement and bond valence calculations. The LaO(Cl 1− x Br x ) (0 ≤ x ≤ 1, step 0.2, and x = 0.5) powder samples were prepared by the solid state reaction between La 2 O 3 and a mixture of ammonium chloride and bromide. The X-ray powder diffraction patterns were collected at room temperature between 5 and 125° in 2Θ using Cu K α 1 radiation (λ = 1.5406 A). The XPD data between 20 and 90° were analyzed with the DBWS-9006PC Rietveld profile refinement program. All the LaO(Cl 1− x Br x ) phases studied crystallize in the tetragonal PbFCl-type structure wi…

X-ray powder diffraction study of the stability of solid solutions in (La1−xGdx)OCl

The formation of the solid solutions in the (La1−xGdx)OCl series was studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XPD) at room temperature in the 2θ region between 6.5 and 120°. The Rietveld profile refinement analyses of the XPD patterns were carried out with the background, unit cell, atomic position, isotropic temperature, and Gaussian profile form parameters refined freely. All (La1−xGdx)OCl samples possessed the tetragonal PbFCl-type structure with P4/nmm as the space group (Z=2). The unit cell parameters a and c evolve smoothly through the series and no clustering of the Gd3+ ions was observed according to Vegard's law. The solid solubility exists throughout the whole series. The valence bond…

Effect of annealing temperature on persistent luminescence of Y3Al2Ga3O12:Cr3+ co-doped with Ce3+ and Pr3+

Abstract Y3(Al,Ga)5O12 (YAGG) materials doped with Ce3+, Cr3+ and Pr3+ were synthesized by using a modified Pechini method and subsequently annealed in air at selected temperatures between 900 and 1500 °C. According to X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses, the particles and size distributions become large and broad, respectively, due to sintering and agglomeration at high annealing temperatures. Based on infrared (FTIR) spectra and calculation of multi-phonon de-excitation probabilities, the high energy O–H vibrations are not causing significant multi-phonon de-excitation of the emitting 5d level of Ce3+ if the annealing temperature is above 90…

Optical studies of Y3(Al,Ga)5O12:Ce3+,Cr3+,Nd3+ nano-phosphors obtained by the Pechini method

The Y-3(Al,Ga)(5)O-12:Ce3+,Cr3+,Nd3+ (YAGG) nano-phosphors with homogeneous particle-size distribution, low aggregation and average crystalline size of about 65 nm were obtained using a modified Pechini method. Only slight aggregation of the crystallites occurs after post-annealing at 1100 degrees C. The intense Ce3+ bands in the excitation spectra of the Ce3+,Cr3+,Nd3+ co-doped materials monitoring the Cr3+ emission at 690 nm indicate energy transfer from Ce(3+ )to Cr3+. Weak Nd3+ lines are observed, as well. In addition, the emission of Nd3+ at 1060 nm with excitation of Ce3+ and Cr3+ confirms the Ce3+/Cr3+ to Nd3+ energy transfer. The short average luminescence decay times for the Ce3+ e…

Stability of Rare-Earth Oxychloride Phases: Bond Valence Study

Abstract The crystal structures of the tetragonal rare earth ( RE ) oxychlorides, RE OCl ( RE =La–Nd, Sm–Ho, and Y) were studied by X-ray powder diffraction measurements, Rietveld analyses, and bond valence calculations. The tetragonal structure (space group P 4/ nmm , No. 129, Z =2) is stable for all but Er–Lu oxychlorides, which possess a hexagonal structure. The tetragonal structure consists of alternating layers of ( RE O) n n + complex cations and X n − anions, where the rare earth is coordinated to four oxygens and four plus one chlorines in a monocapped tetragonal antiprism arrangement. The Rietveld analyses yielded a coherent series of structural parameters. Preferred orientation an…