Study of the luminescence of calcium niobate activated by neodymium

Abstract

In this study, samples of calcium niobate activated with neodymium (CaNb2O6:Nd) were synthesized using the solid-phase method in air. The optical properties were investigated at 300 K. The optical bandgap of CaNb2O6:Nd was found to be 3.6 eV. The luminescent properties of the samples in the infrared spectral region were analyzed, and the optimal concentration of neodymium ions in the compound was determined. The luminescence spectrum consists of a set of bands with the maxima located at wavelengths of 896, 1061, and 1341 nm. The luminescence decay kinetics is characteristic of intracenter luminescence. The average lifetime of Nd-ion excited states in a CaNb2O6:Nd compound is within the range of 40-100 μs depending on the activator concentration