Luminescence and cathodoluminescence properties of M^IPr(PO_3)_4(M^I=Na, Li,K) and PrP_5O_14

Abstract

Poly-crystals of praseodymium phosphate M^IPr(PO_3)_4 (M^I=Na, Li, K) and PrP_5O_14 have been synthesized by the flux method. All of these hosts crystallized in the monoclinic structures with different space groups. The spectroscopic properties of trivalent praseodymium ions in these compounds have been characterized. The emission spectra under laser excitation at 488 nm show several characteristic emission bands of Pr^3+ resulting from intra-configurational transitions between ^3^P_0 and 4f^2 lower lying levels. All the studied compounds exhibit two strong parity-allowed 4f^15d^1 -> 4f^2 emission bands located in the near ultraviolet domain using electrons as source for optical excitation. Therefore, these materials are of interest for applications in lighting and scintillating applications.