Growth and spectroscopic properties of samarium oxalate single crystals

Single crystals of samarium oxalate decahydrate were synthesized using single diffusion gel technique and the conditions influencing the size, shape and quality were optimized. Highly transparent crystals of size 3×2×1 mm3 with a well defined hexagonal morphology were grown during a time period of two weeks. X ray powder diffraction analysis revealed that the grown crystals crystallize in the monoclinic system with space group P21/c and the proposed chemical formula and linkage of water molecules were confirmed using thermogravimetric analysis. The various functional groups of the oxalate ligand and the water of crystallization were identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Spectroscopic investigations such as electric dipole transition probability, magnetic dipole transition probability and branching ratios of all possible transitions from 4G5/2 level of Sm3+ ions were estimated from the absorption spectra using JO theory. The spectroscopic analysis suggested that the crystal has a strong and efficient orange red emission. This is confirmed from the photoluminescence spectrum with a wavelength peak at 595 nm and hence this promising emission can be effectively used for optical amplification.