Single crystal fiber growth of cerium doped strontium yttrate, SrY2O4:Ce3+

First single crystal fibers of cerium doped strontium yttrate were fabricated using the laser-heated pedestal growth technique. Through thermodynamic equilibrium calculations and by high-temperature mass spectrometry suitable growth conditions could be determined. The atmosphere played an important role during crystallization. It affected the composition shift, on the one hand, and the valence state of cerium, on the other hand. These dependencies can be explained by combining X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, and optical spectroscopy. Crystallization in slightly reducing nitrogen atmosphere proved to be a reasonable choice, because evaporation is suppressed and trivalent cerium is stabilized. Strong green emission that depends on the oxygen fugacity during crystallization could be excited using UV light. Optical properties of SrY2O4:Ce3+ were measured for the first time.