X-Ray diffraction, electronic structure and magnetic characterization of nano and single crystals SrLaAlO4: Mn optical materials

The XRD, XPS, SEM and magnetic characterization of the nano and single crystals SrLaAlO4 doped with Mn were done. The sol-gel method was used to obtain the nanopowder and SEM imaging confirmed the sub-micron size of grains. The single crystals were grown by the Czochralski method. All compounds exhibit excess of strontium and deficiency of aluminium. The unit cell volumes increase with the amount of strontium. The electronic structures measured by XPS of the undoped yellowish single crystals and those nominally doped with 0.02 Mn (amber) and 0.1 Mn (olive) are very similar with comparable ratios of the main to the additional lines. It differs in the case of the nanocrystals, where the surface decomposition is observed. The magnetic measurements indicate the presence of the Mn4+ ions and are in good agreement with the spectroscopic data.