Effect of temperature on the luminescence of Sm3+ ions in YAM crystals

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2014-11, Vol.612, p.149-153
• Main Authors: Kaczkan, M., Boruc, Z., Turczyński, S., Malinowski, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Energy transfer; Exact sciences and technology; Luminescence; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Photoluminescence; Physics; Samarium; Temperature measurements; Y4Al2O9
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2014.05.186

•Different concentration Sm3+-doped Y4Al2O9 crystals are fabricated by μ-pulling down method.•Thermally activated 4F3/2→6H5/2 emission of Sm3+ in YAM is studied.•Temperature dependent quenching mechanism of the 4G5/2 luminescence is proposed. The spectroscopic features of samarium Sm3+ activated Y4Al2O9 (YAM) crystals are presented and discussed. Temperature sensing properties of Sm3+:YAM phosphor was demonstrated over the 300–1200K range. Temperature dependent luminescence spectra and decay curves for the 4G5/2 level of Sm3+ in YAM were measured. Ratio of the fluorescence intensities arising from the two close lying 4F3/2 and 4G5/2 levels (with energy separation of ΔE∼1000cm−1) followed a straight line pattern, which confirms the Boltzmann distribution of the population, and can be used to measure temperature. The lifetime for the 4G5/2 level in 1% Sm doped sample decreases from 1.65 to 0.08ms with heating from room temperature to 1200K. This behavior of decays is discussed in terms of radiative and multiphonon decays as well as cross-relaxation dependence on temperature.