Nd <sup>3+</sup> emission in the garnet structure of LiCa <sub>3</sub> ZnV <sub>3</sub> O <sub>12</sub> phosphor
Gopal Warutkar, Nilesh S. Ugemuge, Khushbu Sharma, Renuka Nafdey, S. V. Moharil
Abstract
Nd3+ doped vanadate phosphors are well known, mainly for their suitability for solid-state laser applications. Garnet structures are also explored for such purposes. LiCa3ZnV3O12 is one of them. Luminescence in this host has not yet been investigated. The luminescence characteristics of LiCa3ZnV3O12:Nd3+ are reported here. Two types of emissions have been observed. The self-activated luminescence could be observed under UV excitation. The characteristic emission of Nd3+ is also observed. Apart from the f–f excitation, an efficient host sensitization of Nd3+ luminescence is observed. The LiCa3ZnV3O12:Nd3+ phosphor showed an intense Near Infrared emission at 1068 nm due to the transition of 4F3/2 → 4I9/2, for 350 nm excitation.