Preparation and emission study of divalent samarium formed in air fired samples of Sm:Ba2B10O17

Trivalent samarium has been found to be reduced to the divalent state during the air firing process of the preparation of 5% Sm:Ba2B10O15. This is the first time that the formation of divalent samarium has been reported as a function of the preparation of this material. The product was prepared from a co-precipitated borate which was fired at 750 °C with an additional 30% boric acid. The resulting product was confirmed by x-ray analysis and exhibited only divalent samarium emission. Based upon the observed emission, the primary samarium site can be assigned a site symmetry of C2v. The emitting samarium ion appears to occupy a tetrahedral boron site in this material.