Spectroscopic properties of KGd(WO4)2 single crystals doped with Er3+, Ho3+, Tm3+ and Yb3+ ions: Luminescence and micro-Raman investigations

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2013-11, Vol.577, p.687-692
• Main Authors: Kasprowicz, D., Brik, M.G., Majchrowski, A., Michalski, E., Głuchowski, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alloys; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Crystals; Double tungstates; Energy use; Exact sciences and technology; Growth from solutions; KGd(WO4)2; Lattice dynamics; Luminescence; Materials science; Methods of crystal growth; physics of crystal growth; Micro-Raman spectroscopy; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Optical properties of bulk materials and thin films; Phonon states and bands, normal modes, and phonon dispersion; Phonons and vibrations in crystal lattices; Physics; Rare earth ions; Rare earth metals; Single crystals; Spectra; Spectroscopy; Up-conversion
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2013.06.153

•Investigations of KGd(WO4)2 crystals doped with Ho/Yb/Er and Ho/Tm/Yb/Er ions.•The vibrational properties were studied using micro-Raman spectroscopy.•The multicolor up-converted luminescence was investigated. KGd(WO4)2 single crystals doped with Ho3+/Yb3+/Er3+ and Ho3+/Tm3+/Yb3+/Er3+ ions were grown by means of the Top Seeded Solution Growth (TSSG) method. It was shown that these systems exhibit multicolor up-conversion luminescence in the visible and near-infrared spectral ranges under 980nm laser excitation. In the investigated crystals the Yb3+ ions were used as the energy sensitizer ion and the up-converted luminescence originates from transitions between the energy levels of other co-doped rare earth ions such as Er3+, Ho3+ or Tm3+, which play the role of the energy activator ions. The vibrational properties of the crystals were investigated using micro-Raman spectroscopy and the role of vibrational energy in the effective energy transfer process between the rare earth ions was discussed. The proposed combinations of activator ions may be suitable for gaining novel materials with effective green, red and near-infrared emission.