Lattice Location and Cathodoluminescence Studies of Ytterbium/Thulium Implanted 2H-Aluminium Nitride

Abstract

ABSTRACTLattice location studies of radioactive 169Yb ions, implanted at an energy of 60 keV into 2H-AlN at the on-line isotope separator ISOLDE at CERN, were performed using the emission channeling technique. The measurements, which yield a substitutional Al lattice site for the implanted ions, were recorded for annealing temperatures ranging from 293 K to 1273 K. After complete decay of 169Yb to 169Tm cathodoluminescence measurements were performed in the range 12 K – 300 K. The samples show a strong visible luminescence at 460 - 470 nm at room temperature, which is attributed to the 1D2−3F4 intra-4f electron transition of Tm3+. At 12 K the luminescence is dominated by transitions starting from the 1H6 multiplet. Time resolved as well as temperature dependent cathodoluminescence measurements are presented and discussed.The lattice location as well as the time resolved cathodoluminescence measurements suggest that there is only one pronounced site of the implanted ions in the AlN lattice and that this is the substitutional aluminium site.