Evidence of broad emission band in the system MgGa2O4–Ga2O3 doped with Cr3+ ions

We present the photoluminescence, excitation and photoacoustic spectra at room temperature of the system MgGa2O4–Ga2O3 doped with Cr3+. The samples were prepared by solid state reaction and their formation was verified by X-ray diffraction. The emission spectra exhibit broad bands in the red and infrared regions associated to Cr3+ with octahedral coordination. The excitation as well as the photoacoustic spectra show broad and intense bands in the visible region, all associated to Cr3+ ions in octahedral sites, making this material interesting for future practical applications.

► MgGa2O4–Ga2O3 doped with Cr3+ samples were prepared by solid state reaction.
► The emission of the system MgGa2O4–Ga2O3 doped with Cr3+ is broader than the observed for individual phases.
► The occupancy of Cr3+ in MgGa2O4 sites increases for higher doping levels.