Unraveling Pr3+ 5d-4f emission in LiLa9(SiO4)6O2 crystals doped with Pr3+ ions

LiLa9(SiO4)6O2 (LLSO) crystals doped with Pr3+ ions were grown using the slow cooling flux method. The crystals were characterized by means of luminescence and optical spectroscopy and luminescence decay measurements upon excitation in UV, VUV and X-ray range including using synchrotron radiation sources. The spectroscopic data revealed the presence Pr3+ 5d↔4f emission and excitation bands related to Pr3+ ions replacing La3+ in two nonequivalent positions, and features related Pr3+ 4f→4f emission. The photon cascade emission is not observed in LLSO:Pr3+, since Pr3+1S0 state is above the bottom of 4fn-15d mixed-states band. Apart from the emission features related to Pr3+, a defect-related emission was observed upon UV, VUV, and ionizing radiation excitation. Presence of the defects was shown with thermoluminescence measurements and suggested to be the main reason for suppression the 5d→4f emission. Peculiarities of host-to-impurity energy transfer are analyzed and discussed.