Photoluminescence properties of rare-earth incorporated Y₂O₃ whiskers obtained by chemical vapor deposition

Abstract

Photoluminescence properties of Y₂O₃:Tm³⁺ whisker obtained by chemical vapor deposition method have been investigated in the wide temperature region. It is found that excitation to the highest terminal level of the Tm³⁺ ion gives rise to the temperature quenching of the Tm³⁺ emission in contrast to the excitation to the level lying much below. A description is proposed where the temperature quenching process is assigned to the thermal activation of the excited electron to the conduction band. Based on the proposed description, positions of the energy levels of Tm³⁺ ion relative to the energy band diagram of the Y₂O₃ have been determined.