TY - JOUR

T1 - Spectroscopy of Pr3+ ion in large-size gadolinium oxide single crystals and proton irradiation effects

AU - Tavrunov, D. A.

AU - Pustovarov, V. A.

AU - Nagornaya, S. I.

AU - Naumov, N. G.

AU - Nikolaev, R. E.

AU - Trifonov, V. A.

N1 - The authors from the Ural Federal University are grateful to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (project No. FEUZ-2026-0010) and Dr. M.N. Sarychev for assistance in irradiating with proton beam at the Cyclotron Center of Nuclear Medicine.

PY - 2026/8

Y1 - 2026/8

N2 - Bulk optically transparent gadolinium oxide crystals doped with Pr3+ ions were grown from a solution at T = 1110 °C using a modified Czochralski method. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the crystal structure is characterized by the presence of a single cubic phase. Absorption and low-temperature luminescence spectroscopy were employed to analyze the optical properties. Intraconfigurational f – f luminescence (3P0, 1D2 → 3HJ in Pr3+) is clearly observed upon both UV- and X-ray excitation. 4f15d1 – 4f2 (Pr3+) interconfiguration UV-emission is very weak both due to the high efficiency of Pr3+ → Gd3+ energy transfer and 4f15d1 → 3PJ nonradiative relaxation. The luminescent characteristics of bulk crystals are discussed in comparison with Gd2O3:RE nano- and microcrystalline powders. Absorption and low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy were used to study post-radiation effects in proton-irradiated samples. Radiation-induced defects are formed via the elastic displacement mechanism in samples irradiated with 18 MeV protons. The concentration of anion vacancies and, accordingly, the concentration of nearby Gd3+ ions increases. This leads to an increase in the intensity of 6PJ → 8S7/2 radiative transitions in Gd3+ ions (312.4 nm), as well as an effective Pr3+ → Gd3+ energy transfer. F-like centers form a selective wide emission band at 532 nm in the PL spectrum. Gd2O3:Pr3+ single crystals exhibit high radiation resistance to proton irradiation.

AB - Bulk optically transparent gadolinium oxide crystals doped with Pr3+ ions were grown from a solution at T = 1110 °C using a modified Czochralski method. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the crystal structure is characterized by the presence of a single cubic phase. Absorption and low-temperature luminescence spectroscopy were employed to analyze the optical properties. Intraconfigurational f – f luminescence (3P0, 1D2 → 3HJ in Pr3+) is clearly observed upon both UV- and X-ray excitation. 4f15d1 – 4f2 (Pr3+) interconfiguration UV-emission is very weak both due to the high efficiency of Pr3+ → Gd3+ energy transfer and 4f15d1 → 3PJ nonradiative relaxation. The luminescent characteristics of bulk crystals are discussed in comparison with Gd2O3:RE nano- and microcrystalline powders. Absorption and low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy were used to study post-radiation effects in proton-irradiated samples. Radiation-induced defects are formed via the elastic displacement mechanism in samples irradiated with 18 MeV protons. The concentration of anion vacancies and, accordingly, the concentration of nearby Gd3+ ions increases. This leads to an increase in the intensity of 6PJ → 8S7/2 radiative transitions in Gd3+ ions (312.4 nm), as well as an effective Pr3+ → Gd3+ energy transfer. F-like centers form a selective wide emission band at 532 nm in the PL spectrum. Gd2O3:Pr3+ single crystals exhibit high radiation resistance to proton irradiation.

KW - Energy transfer

KW - Gd2O3 single crystals

KW - Photoluminescence

KW - Pr3+

KW - Protons irradiation

KW - radiation resistance

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105040630878

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/1979dd3d-dcba-3955-9cc6-b1fd89d0ec38/

U2 - 10.1016/j.jlumin.2026.121964

DO - 10.1016/j.jlumin.2026.121964

M3 - Article

VL - 296

JO - Journal of Luminescence

JF - Journal of Luminescence

SN - 0022-2313

M1 - 121964

ER -