Structural and optical properties of Nd3+ doped columbite SrNb2O6

Nd-doped SrNb2O6 particles have been prepared by a molten salt method using strontium nitrate, niobium oxide and NaCl–KCl salt mixture as a flux at a relatively low temperature as compared to solid-state reaction method. X-ray diffraction patterns of the pure SrNb2O6 samples exhibited a single orthorhombic phase. Photoluminescence (PL) properties of Nd-doped samples in near-infrared spectral region were studied in detail. A characteristic luminescence of Nd3+ at 1.06 μm was observed for Nd-doped SrNb2O6. Concentration quenching phenomenon was detected depending on the Nd-doping concentrations at room temperature. This characteristic of the doped samples may be ascribed to the energy transfer between Nd3+ and niobate groups (NbO6).