SrPb3Br8:Pr crystals: growth and investigation of spectroscopic characteristics

Halogenide crystals are of big interest as the functional materials for various applications because of their high transparency in a wide spectral region and a resistance for optical damage. SrPb3Br8 crystals have orthorhombic symmetry Pnma. They are transparent in the 0.36-30 µm range, the estimated band gap value is 3.20 eV. SrPb3Br8:Pr3+ crystals were grown by the Bridgman method. Transparent boules up to ø15 × 100 mm in size were obtained. Fine structure associated with Pr3+ is observed in absorption, photo- and X-ray excited luminescence spectra of SrPb3Br8:Pr. Broad band emission of self- trapped excitons dominates in emission spectra of undoped SrPb3Br8 crystals. Narrow lines in emission spectra are due to radiative transitions from the excited 3P0 and 1D2 states in Pr3+.