Synthesis and luminescent study of Ce3+-doped terbium–yttrium aluminum garnet

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2013-02, Vol.550, p.159-163
• Main Authors: Dotsenko, V.P., Berezovskaya, I.V., Zubar, E.V., Efryushina, N.P., Poletaev, N.I., Doroshenko, Yu.A., Stryganyuk, G.B., Voloshinovskii, A.S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Electronic band structure; Exact sciences and technology; Luminescence; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Other solid inorganic materials; Oxides materials; Phosphors; Photoluminescence; Physics; Solid state reactions
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2012.09.053

► Ce3+-doped garnets (TYAG) were prepared using nanostructured reagents. ► The Ce3+ ions cause a very efficient yellow emission of the samples. ► The reasons for the long wavelength position of this emission are discussed. ► Contribution from Al atoms to the conduction band of TYAG is quite essential. Terbium–yttrium aluminum garnets (TYAG) doped with Ce3+ ions have been prepared by solid state reactions between nanostructured oxides of aluminum and rare earths. The luminescent properties of Ce3+ ions in (Тb0.8Y0.2)3(1−x)Ce3xAl5O12 (х=0.03) have been studied upon excitation in the 2–20eV region. The substitution of Tb3+ for Y3+ in the garnet structure results in broadening the emission band and shifting its maximum towards the longer wavelengths. It was found that in addition to the 4fn→4fn−15d excitation bands of Ce3+ and Tb3+ ions, the excitation spectra for the Ce3+ emission contain broad bands at 6.73 and ∼9.5eV. These bands are attributed to the Ce3+-bound exciton formation and O 2p→Al 3s, 3p transitions, respectively. In contrast to the predictions based on the results of electronic structure calculations on Y3Al5O12 and Tb4Al2O9, the threshold of interband transitions in TYAG is at high energies (⩾7.3eV), and contributions from Altetr and Aloct atoms to the conduction-band density of states are evaluated as quite essential.