Luminescence of Neodymium-Doped Yttria

摘要

Pulsed cathodoluminescence of Nd~(3+):Y_(2)O_(3) nanopowders of the cubic and monoclinic phases and the ceramics synthesized from these nanopowders has been investigated in the spectral range 350-850 nm. It is found that the IR emission band of neodymium ions in the Nd~(3+):Y_(2)O_(3) cubic phase is located at (lambda)_(1) approx= 825 nm. When there is a monoclinic phase admixture, two additional luminescence bands of Nd~(3+) arise in the spectrum at (lambda)_(2) approx= 750 nm and (lambda)_(3) approx= 720 nm. The emission spectrum of all Nd~(3+):Y_(2)O_(3) materials also contains a wide intrinsic band of yttrium oxide at lambda approx= 485 nm; however, the presence of neodymium decreases the intensity of this band and increases the its structurization. It is suggested that the structure of this band in Nd~(3+):Y_(2)O_(3) materials is mainly determined by local absorption (self-absorption) of neodymium ions.