title: Low energy 4f-5d transitions in lanthanide doped CaLaSiN3 with low degree of cross-linking between SiN4 tetrahedra.
abstract: CaLaSiN3 samples doped with Eu, Yb, Sm, Ce and Pr have been prepared via solid-state reaction synthesis and the optical properties have been studied. Both Yb and Sm were only observed in the trivalent state due to the fact that their Ln(2+) ground states are located inside or very close to the conduction band of the CaLaSiN3 host lattice. Doping with Ce(3+) or Eu(2+) resulted in a very low energy Ce(3+) or Eu(2+) 4f-5d absorption band around 1.9 eV (650 nm) and 1.4 eV (885 nm), respectively. The Ce(3+) 5d-4f emission appeared to be quenched, just as the Eu(2+) 5d-4f emission, which can be explained as the result of auto-ionization.
authors.affiliation: Section Fundamental Aspects of Materials and Energy, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlands. Energy Materials and Devices, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: ten Kate
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Hintzen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van der Kolk