Optical spectroscopy of Ce3+-activated X2-Y2SiO5

Abstract

Emission and excitation spectra of X2-Y2SiO5 doped with Ce3+ ions have been investigated at room temperature, in which Ce3+ ions were added by using different starting materials of CeO2(IV) or Ce(NO3)3·6H2O (III). The emission spectra were analyzed on the base of a Gaussian function to investigate the detailed optical characteristics of Ce3+. Y2SiO5 doped with CeO2 exhibited a broad spectrum with a tail in the range from 500 to 600 nm. On the other hand, Y2SiO5 doped with Ce(NO3)3 gave a relatively sharp spectrum shorter than 500 nm. With using fitting parameters based on Gaussian function, Y2SiO5 doped with CeO2 was found to show an additional Gaussian band around 430 nm in contrast to the Ce(NO3)3 doped one. Furthermore, the fluorescence spectra under the excitation at 330 nm indicated that a broad spectrum with a peak at 430 nm is only observed in Y2SO5 doped with CeO2. Such an emission spectrum is similar to the new Gaussian band at 430 nm estimated from the parameter fitting. This implies that the new band actually exists, contributing to the tail of the emission spectra. These results give a new information on the occupation site of Ce3+ in the X2-Y2SiO5 matrix. Show more