Search Results (6)

In this paper, we present the characteristics of photoluminescent YBO₃ successfully synthesized through a solid-state reaction and a microwave-assisted method. We used yttrium oxide and boric acid in excess as the starting reagents. The synthesis conditions were reflected in the fluorescent characteristics and the structure. Excess boric acid caused structural changes, as observed by the FTIR spectroscopy analysis. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the crystalline phases and purity of the samples. We observed improved photoluminescence properties in the samples synthesized by the microwave-assisted method. These findings enhance the understanding of the material’s properties and indicate potential applications in illumination, displays, and narrow-band fluorescent smartphone-readable markers. Full article

We present an extensive study of the luminescence characteristics of Mn impurity ions in a YAl₃(BO₃)₄:Mn crystal, in combination with X-ray fluorescence analysis and determination of the valence state of Mn by XANES (X-ray absorption near-edge structure) spectroscopy. The valences of manganese Mn²⁺(d⁵) and Mn³⁺(d⁴) were determined by the XANES and high-resolution optical spectroscopy methods shown to be complementary. We observe the R₁ and R₂ luminescence and absorption lines characteristic of the ²E ↔ ⁴A₂ transitions in d³ ions (such as Mn⁴⁺ and Cr³⁺) and show that they arise due to uncontrolled admixture of Cr³⁺ ions. A broad luminescent band in the green part of the spectrum is attributed to transitions in Mn²⁺. Narrow zero-phonon infrared luminescence lines near 1060 nm (9400 cm⁻¹) and 760 nm (13,160 cm⁻¹) are associated with spin-forbidden transitions in Mn³⁺: ¹T₂ → ³T₁ (between excited triplets) and ¹T₂ → ⁵E (to the ground state). Spin-allowed ⁵T₂ → ⁵E Mn³⁺ transitions show up as a broad band in the orange region of the spectrum. Using the data of optical spectroscopy and Tanabe–Sugano diagrams we estimated the crystal-field parameter Dq and Racah parameter B for Mn³⁺ in YAB:Mn as Dq = 1785 cm⁻¹ and B = 800 cm⁻¹. Our work can serve as a basis for further study of YAB:Mn for the purposes of luminescent thermometry, as well as other applications. Full article

The energy levels of Dy³⁺ ions have been determined in lithium yttrium borate (Li₆Y(BO₃)₃) single crystals in a wide spectral range between 3000 and 40,000 cm⁻¹ using optical absorption and luminescence spectroscopy, which also allow for an analysis of the ground state. The crystal field splittings of the ⁶H_15/2 ground state and all excited states up to the ⁴F_7/2 manifold were obtained at a low temperature, based on luminescence (T = 4.2–78 K) and absorption (T = 8–100 K) measurements, respectively. The numbers of experimentally observed Stark sublevels are in agreement with those expected theoretically for Dy³⁺ ions occupying a single low symmetry (C₁) site. Full article

A high-pressure/high-temperature experiment at 7.5 GPa and 1673 K led to the formation of the new compound β-Y₂B₄O₉. In contrast to the already known polymorph α-Y₂B₄O₉, which crystallizes in the space group C2/c, the reported structure could be solved via single-crystal X-ray diffraction in the triclinic space group P $\overline{1}$ (no. 2) and is isotypic to the already known lanthanide borates β-Dy₂B₄O₉ and β-Gd₂B₄O₉. Furthermore, the photoluminescence of an europium doped sample of β-Y₂B₄O₉:Eu³⁺ (8%) was investigated. Full article

As previously shown for lutetium and yttrium, 1,2,3,4,5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl (C₅Me₅ = Cp*)-bearing rare-earth metal dimethyl half-sandwich complexes [Cp*LnMe₂]₃ are now also accessible for holmium, dysprosium, and terbium via tetramethylaluminato cleavage of [Cp*Ln(AlMe₄)₂] with diethyl ether (Ho, Dy) and tert-butyl methyl ether (TBME) (Tb). C–H-bond activation and ligand redistribution reactions are observed in case of terbium and are dominant for the next larger-sized gadolinium, as evidenced by the formation of mixed methyl/methylidene clusters [(Cp*Ln)₅(CH₂)(Me)₈] and metallocene dimers [Cp*₂Ln(AlMe₄)]₂ (Ln = Tb, Gd). Applying TBME as a “cleaving” reagent can result in both TBME deprotonation and ether cleavage, as shown for the formation of the 24-membered macrocycle [(Cp*Gd)₂(Me)(CH₂OtBu)₂(AlMe₄)]₄ or monolanthanum complex [Cp*La(AlMe₄){Me₃Al(CH₂)OtBu}] and monoyttrium complex [Cp*Y(AlMe₄)(Me₃AlOtBu)], respectively. Complexes [Cp*Ln(AlMe₄)₂] (Ln = Ho, Dy, Tb, Gd) and [Cp*LnMe₂]₃ (Ln = Ho, Dy) are applied in isoprene and 1,3-butadiene polymerization, upon activation with borates [Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄] and [PhNHMe₂][B(C₆F₅)₄], as well as borane B(C₆F₅)₃. The trans-directing effect of AlMe₃ in the binary systems [Cp*Ln(AlMe₄)₂]/borate is revealed and further corroborated by the fabrication of high-cis-1,4 polybutadiene (97%) with “aluminum-free” [Cp*DyMe₂]₃/[Ph₃C][B(C₆F₅)₄]. The formation of multimetallic active species is supported by the polymerization activity of pre-isolated cluster [(Cp*Ho)₃Me₄(CH₂)(thf)₂]. Full article

We investigated the fabrication of neodymium doped thin film optical waveguide-based devices as potential active sources for planar integrated optics. Liquid-phase epitaxial growth was used to fabricate neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum borate films on compatible lattice-matched, un-doped yttrium aluminum borate substrates. We observed the refractive index contrast of the doped and un-doped crystal layers via differential interference contrast microscopy. In addition, characterization by X-ray powder diffraction, optical absorption and luminescence spectra demonstrated the crystal quality, uniformity and optical guiding of the resulting thin films. Full article