Optical properties of (Y 1−xTm x) 3GaO 6 and subsolidus phase relation of Y 2O 3–Ga 2O 3–Tm 2O 3

Abstract

A serial of samples in Y 2O 3–Ga 2O 3–Tm 2O 3 pseudo-ternary system are prepared by solid-state chemical reaction method. The range of solid solution in (Y 1 −x Tm x ) 3GaO 6 is 0< x<0.384. Powder X-ray diffraction shows that the compounds crystallize in Gd 3GaO 6 (Cmc2 1)-type structure. The solid solubilities of Y 3+ x Ga 5− x O 12 ( x=0–0.77) and Tm 3+ x Ga 5− x O 12 ( x=0–0.62) are 37.5–47.11 at% Y 2O 3, and 37.5–45.26 at% Tm 2O 3, respectively. PL spectra of Tm-doped Y 3GaO 6 show that there is a sharp blue emission at ∼456 nm from the 1D 2→ 3F 4 transition at room temperatures with two lifetimes (∼5 and ∼15 μs) and a narrow saturation range of PL intensity for the Tm 3+ content from x=0.005 to 0.03. The sharp emission and long lifetime of (Y 1 −x Tm x ) 3GaO 6 indicate that Y 3GaO 6 is a potential phosphor and laser crystal host material.