The interconfigurational (4f15d1 → 4f2) luminescence of Pr3+ in LuPO4, K3Lu(PO4)2 and LiLuSiO4

The room temperature emission spectra of Pr3+ in LuPO4, K3Lu(PO4)2 and LiLuSiO4 is dominated by the interconfigurational (4f15d1 → 4f2) emission transition. The luminescence of Pr3+ activated LuPO4 is characterized by a very small Stokes shift of emission [600 cm−1 (0.07 eV)]. The emission spectrum of Pr3+ activated LiLuSiO4 exhibits weak 4f2 → 4f2 intraconfigurational emission transitions in addition to the 4f15d1 → 4f2 emission transitions. The factors, which are responsible for minimizing the nonradiative relaxation of the Pr3+ 4f15d1 level to the 4f2 levels, are determined from a comparative study of the present data with the data that is available in the archival literature.

► The luminescence of Pr3+ in LuPO4, K3Lu(PO4)2 and LiLuSiO4 is reported.
► Partition of excitation energy between 4f15d1 and 4f2 levels is studied.
► Factors which maximize Pr3+interconfigurational emission are identified.