Photosensitive Defects in Gd2O3 - Advanced Material for Solar Energy Conversion

The photo- and thermally- stimulated luminescence of Gd2O3 and Gd2O3:Zn nanostructured powders has been investigated at 295 and 90 K. Optically active impurities and intrinsic defects in the host lattice have been detected. The kinetics parameters of the charge trapping centers (order of kinetics, activation energy, frequency factor) were determined. The nature of defect states and their role in the processes of the energy relaxation are discussed.