Emission spectra of lanthanide ions in hexafluoroelpasolite lattices excited by synchrotron radiation (original) (raw)

Emission spectra at 10 K employing synchrotron radiation have been recorded for the tripositive lanthanide ions, Ln = Sm, Gd, Tb, Ho, and Er situated at octahedral (or nearly octahedral) site symmetry in hexafluoroelpasolite Cs 2 NaMF 6 (M = Y, Sc, or Ga) lattices. Interconfigurational 5d ? 4f transitions are only observed for Er 3+ , and the intensity ratio of 4f 10 5d ? 4f 11 emission, compared with 4f 11 ? 4f 11 emission, with excitation into 5d levels, is greater for M = Ga than M = Sc. The highest energy intraconfigurational emission is from 4 G 5/2 (Sm 3+ ), 6 P 7/2 (Gd 3+ ), 5 D 3 (Tb 3+ ), 5 G 4 (Ho 3+ ), and 2 F(2) 7/2 (Er 3+ ). Detailed energy level assignments have been given for Ln = Sm, Gd, and the remaining spectra are assigned as multiplet-multiplet transitions.