V. Pankratov

LaPO4:Ce,Tb and YVO4:Eu nanophosphors: Luminescence studies in the vacuum ultraviolet spectral range

Comparative analysis of the luminescent properties of nanocrystalline LaPO4:Ce,Tb and YVO4:Eu luminescent materials with macrocrystalline analogues, commercially produced by Philips, has been performed under excitation by pulsed vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) synchrotron radiation, ranging from 3.7-40 eV. Special attention was paid to VUV spectral range, which is not reachable with commonly used lamp and laser sources. Our results clearly show distinct difference in the excitation spectra for nano- and macrocrystalline samples, especially at energies, when the spatial separation of electron-hole pairs is comparable with sizes of nanoparticles. Differences in the region of multiplication of the electronic excitations are also demonstrated and discussed.

Luminescence center excited state absorption in tungstates

The excited state absorption of intrinsic luminescence center (self-trapped exciton) in tungstates (CaWO4, ZnWO4, PbWO4 and CdWO4) was studied. The transient absorption and luminescence spectra, decay kinetics and lifetime dependencies on temperature have been measured. The model of self-trapped exciton and nature of observed absorption bands were discussed.

Luminescence and transient absorption in ZnWO4 and ZnWO4-Fe crystals

Abstract The transient absorption spectra and relaxation kinetics under pulse electron beam excitation in ZnWO 4 and ZnWO 4 –Fe, as well as luminescence spectra and decay kinetics, were studied. It is shown that a fraction of transient absorption is due to luminescence center excited state. The energy transfer from intrinsic excitations to the defect or impurity states is not efficient. The role of Fe-impurities in the decay process is discussed.

Electronic excitations in ZnWO4 and ZnxNi1−xWO4 (x = 0.1 − 0.9) using VUV synchrotron radiation

The photoluminescence spectra and luminescence excitation spectra of pure microcrystalline and nano-sized ZnWO4 as well as the ZnxNi1−xWO4 solid solutions were studied using vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) synchrotron radiation. The samples were also characterized by x-ray powder diffraction. We found that: (i) the shape of the photoluminescence band at 2.5 eV, being due to radiative electron transitions within the [WO6]6− anions, becomes modulated by the optical absorption of Ni2+ ions in the ZnxNi1−xWO4 solid solutions; and (ii) no significant change in the excitation spectra of Zn0.9Ni0.1WO4 is observed compared to pure ZnWO4. At the same time, a shift of the excitonic bands to smaller energies and a set of peaks, attributed to the one-electron transitions from the top of the valence band to quasi-localized states, were observed in the excitation spectrum of nano-sized ZnWO4.

Luminescence Properties of ZnO Nanocrystals and Ceramics

The luminescence excitation spectra, luminescence spectra and the nanosecond-scale decay kinetics were studied. The ZnO and ZnO:Al nanopowders were prepared by vaporization-condensation in a solar furnace using different raw powders: commercial, hydrothermal and those obtained by plasma synthesis. Exciton-phonon as well as exciton-exciton interaction processes in nanopowders, a bulk crystal and ZnO ceramics were studied and compared. The fast decay and low afterglow intensity of ZnO nanopowders and ceramics support these materials for scintillators.

Transient absorption and luminescence of LiNbO3 and KNbO3

Abstract The results of time-resolved optical absorption spectra in congruent and stoichiometric LiNbO3 as well as KNbO3 crystals are reported. The role of different polaron types in transient absoiption and luminescence spectra and decay kinetics are discussed.

The study of time-resolved absorption and luminescence in PbWO4 crystals

Abstract The transient absorption and luminescence under pulsed electron beam excitation were studied for undoped and La3+ doped PbWO4 crystals. The absorption band at ∼1.0 eV is suggested to be due to self-trapped electrons and the absorption band at 3.5 eV may be due to self-trapped holes. The formation of luminescence centers via electron–hole recombination is affected by La3+ in doped crystals. The large fraction of electrons and holes undergoes thermostimulated recombination within geminate pairs and the spatial separation of geminate pairs components is important in recombination process. The intrinsic (blue) luminescence arises in this recombination. The mechanism of La3+ influence on recombination is discussed.

Luminescence Properties and Energy Transfer Processes in Nanosized Cerium Doped YAG

Luminescence properties of cerium doped Y3Al5O12 (YAG) nanocrystals in form of nanopowders and nanoceramics have been studied. The comparative analysis of luminescence characteristics for nano- and single-crystals has been done. It was detected that an excitonic mechanism of the energy transfer from the host lattice to cerium ions does not work in nanopowders and nanoceramics. It was also shown that antisite-related and self-trapped exciton-related luminescence bands are suppressed strongly in nanopowders, and it can be excited only under certain circumstances. These bands practically disappeared in the nanoceramic samples. It was suggested that nanoparticles surface, which is an efficient trap for excitons and charge carriers, plays the crucial role in peculiarities of luminescence characteristics in nanocrystals.

Time-resolved luminescence of nanocrystalline inorganic complex oxides

Two types of complex nanosized oxides – cerium doped Y3Al5O12 (YAG) and CaWO4– have been studied by means of time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy. Comparative study of time-resolve luminescence characteristics of cerium doped YAG single crystal, nanopowders and nanoceramic as well as for CaWO4 macro- and nanocrystals has been done. Two components in the decay kinetic of Ce3+ related emission in YAG nanocrystals were detected and it was suggested that a different energy transfer rate to volume and surface Ce3+ ions takes place. It is shown that the segregation of Ce3+ ions near nanoparticles surface and/or dislocation lines plays a crucial role in degradation of light yield of cerium related luminescence in YAG nanocrystals. Time-resolved properties of sol-gel synthesized CaWO4 nanocrystals depends strongly on the synthesis rout. It was shown that shallow traps have a strong influence on the luminescence decay times of nanosized CaWO4.

Luminescence of ferroelectric crystals: LiNbO3 and KNbO3

Abstract The thermostimulated luminescence and time-resolved luminescence of LiNbO3 (congruent, stoichiometric, Eu−, Mn−, or Cr−doped) and KNbO3 crystals (undoped, Fe−, or Mn− doped) excited by X-ray, pulsed nitrogen laser or pulsed electron beam were studied. The luminescence decay times of niobium-oxygen groups (regular or perturbed by defect or impurity) were obtained. It is shown that the energy transfer from bulk to the activator in LiNbO3 is not effective during the electron-hole recombination process.