ESR and optical spectroscopy of Ce 3+: β″-alumina

Abstract

ESR and optical absorption spectroscopy are reported for Ce 3+ doped β″-alumina and codoped Ce 3+Nd 3+-β″-alumina. The doping was achieved by ion exchange techniques. The spectra indicate that the Ce 3+ ions are found at the mid-oxygen sites in the β″-alumina conduction plane. The g-tensor values were found to be g x = 2.58, g y = 2.15, and g z = 0.85. A small second site occupation (less than 1%) is observed from Ce 3+ ions located in the Beevers-Ross sites. In the codoped crystals, it is shown that the site occupations of Ce 3+ and Nd 3+ ions are not changed when both of these ions are present in the same crystal, an important consideration in energy transfer studies.