Single crystal structure determination and infrared fluorescence of the system (K3Sr1−xNdx) (Nd1−xSr1+x) Nb10O30

• Published in: Materials research bulletin 2012-09, Vol.47 (9), p.2566-2572
• Main Authors: Lahmar, A., Ehrenberg, H., Antic-Fidancev, E., Ganschow, S., Zriouil, M., Elouadi, B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: B. Crystal growth; D. Crystal structure; D. Luminescence
• ISSN: 0025-5408; 1873-4227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2012.04.148

[Display omitted] ► Single crystals of TTB-K3Sr2NdNb10O30 have been grown by two different methods. ► The structures were refined using occupation ratio of Nd3+ in pentagonal sites. ► The crystal chemical formulas depend on the route of crystal preparation. ► Luminescence results corroborate the distribution of Nd3+ ions over two sites. The μ-pulling down technique has permitted to grow single crystal fibers, of the gross chemical formula K3Sr2NdNb10O30, having a sufficient optical quality to carry out spectroscopic studies. The crystal structure has been determined and refined to reliability factors: (i) R1=0.0384 (wR2=0.0665) at room temperature; (ii) R1=0.0334 (wR2=0.0638) at 120K. Difference in the cationic distribution over the 15- and 12-fold sites was noticed. IR fluorescence spectra investigated under different laser excitation wavelength at 300K and 77K show strong emissions at 0.9 and 1.06μm. Low temperature fluorescence behavior is compatible with Nd3+ ions located in both Sr2+ and K+ sites with 15- and 12-fold coordination, respectively.