Ambient pressure synthesis of Eu3+ doped δ-BiB3O6 by seed-assisted high temperature solid state reactions. Issue 18 (21st April 2020) - Zhao, Yunwei
Abstract : A high level of Eu 3+ (7 atom%) was doped successfully, suggesting the possible single crystal growth of bi-functional RE 3+ -doped δ-BiB3 O6 . Abstract : δ-BiB3 O6 shows a comparable nonlinear optical performance with the famous α-BiB3 O6 . It can be prepared either by a high temperature-high pressure method or by a sol–gel method associated with RE 3+ -doping (RE = La, Ce, Pr, and Nd). A direct solid state reaction at 700 °C stabilized 20 atom% La 3+ doped δ-BiB3 O6 compared to the previously reported record (15 atom%) in the literature. La 3+ doping would not only expand the thermodynamically stable region, which is critical for the synthesis, but also hasten the crystallization process. Moreover, Eu 3+, a smaller RE cation, was also doped for the first time at a high doping level (7 atom%) simply by a seed-assisted solid state reaction, which apparently provides additional functionality and will prompt further efforts on single crystal growth of RE 3+ -doped δ-BiB3 O6 under ambient pressure. The combined powder X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis underpinned the phase purity and doping homogeneity of cation doped bismuth borates. UV-excited red luminescence was observed for δ-Bi0.93 Eu0.07 B3 O6 .