Synthesis and optical properties of KZnLa 0.99Nd 0.01(VO 4) 2 triple vanadate(V)—New promising laser materials

Abstract

In an attempt to find a neodymium–vanadate system with long lifetime of 4F 3/2 level and relatively strong 4F 3/2→ 4I 11/2 emission for laser applications, the optical properties of Nd 3+ in a new KZnLa(VO 4) 2 host is reported. The crystalline samples were obtained at 900 °C in air. The samples were crystallized in monoclinic system and were isostructural with KZnLa(PO 4) 2. KZnLa 0.99Nd 0.01(VO 4) 2 strongly emits in the near infrared range with the maxima at 871.6 and 1057 nm upon excitation through the 4F 5/2 level (808 nm) or by the charge transfer bands of VO 4 3−. The lifetime of 4F 3/2 level of Nd 3+ ion is larger than that observed in other neodymium–vanadates systems.