The optical spectroscopy of lanthanides R3+ in ABi(XO4)2 (AÂ =Â Li, Na; XÂ =Â Mo, W) and LiYb(MoO4)2 multifunctional single crystals: Relationship with the structural local disorder

Recent results in the study of tetragonal disordered R3+-doped bismuth double tungstate and double molybdate ABi(XO4)2 (A = Li, Na; X = Mo, W) as well as of stoichiometric LiYb(MoO4)2 crystals have been summarized. They include aspects concerning utilized crystal growth techniques, higher limits achieved in the incorporation of R3+ in the hosts, crystallographic, spectroscopic and optical characterizations, underlining the relationship between observed optical properties and the structural local disorder of these crystals. Their perspectives for application as laser materials have been evaluated through the comparison of obtained optical parameters with these for well-known R-laser crystals.