Magnetic susceptibility and ordering of Yb and Er in phosphors Yb,Er:Lu2O3

• Published in: Optical materials 2008-03, Vol.30 (7), p.1153-1156
• Main Authors: Blanusa, J., Jovic, N., Dzomic, T., Antic, B., Kremenovic, A., Mitric, M., Spasojevic, V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cation ordering; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Critical-point effects, specific heats, short-range order; Crystal field; Diamagnetism, paramagnetism and superparamagnetism; Exact sciences and technology; Magnetic properties and materials; Magnetic semiconductors; Magnetic susceptibility; Physics; Rare earth doped materials; Static properties (order parameter, static susceptibility, heat capacities, critical exponents, etc.); Structure of solids and liquids; crystallography; Studies of specific magnetic materials; Synthesis; X-ray diffraction and scattering
• ISSN: 0925-3467; 1873-1252
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2007.05.039

Mixed sesquioxides (Lu0.9Er0.1)2O3 and (Lu0.9Yb0.1)2O3 were prepared and analyzed by the XRD and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The samples crystallize in the space group Ia3¯ with a byxbyite structure type. The structure refinement have shown that Er3+ exclusively occupy C2 sites in (Lu0.9Er0.1)2O3, while Yb3+ are preferentially distributed in C3i sites in (Lu0.9Yb0.1)2O3. Magnetic susceptibility data in the whole 2–300K temperature region was analyzed by the model based on perturbation theory. The mean energy gap between ground and some of the excited crystal field levels (Ei), and their effective magnetic numbers Mieff were determined. The obtained energy levels are compared with theoretical values, and discussed in relation to the cation distribution. An analysis of paramagnetic temperature has shown absence of magnetic ion clustering.