Emission spectra of lanthanide ions in hexafluoroelpasolite lattices excited by synchrotron radiation

Abstract Emission spectra at 10 K employing synchrotron radiation have been recorded for the tripositive lanthanide ions, Ln = Sm, Gd, Tb, Ho, and Er situated at octahedral (or nearly octahedral) site symmetry in hexafluoroelpasolite Cs2NaMF6 (M = Y, Sc, or Ga) lattices. Interconfigurational 5d → 4f transitions are only observed for Er3+, and the intensity ratio of 4f105d → 4f11 emission, compared with 4f11 → 4f11 emission, with excitation into 5d levels, is greater for M = Ga than M = Sc. The highest energy intraconfigurational emission is from 4G5/2 (Sm3+), 6P7/2 (Gd3+), 5D3 (Tb3+), 5G4 (Ho3+), and 2F(2)7/2 (Er3+). Detailed energy level assignments have been given for Ln = Sm, Gd, and the remaining spectra are assigned as multiplet–multiplet transitions.