Optical and luminescence properties of complex lead oxides

Reflectivity, luminescence, and excitation spectra as well as nanosecond luminescence decay kinetics were measured for PbSO/sub 4/ and PbCO/sub 3/ (as well as CaCO/sub 3/:Pb) by photon excitation between 4 and 35 eV. These measurements were compared to those of PbWO/sub 4/ in order to establish the role of lead states in these compounds, which are potentially interesting as scintillators. New luminescence bands were observed in PbSO/sub 4/ at 340 nm and in PbCO/sub 3/ at 320 nm. Luminescence properties are discussed, assuming the lead parentage of electronic states in the vicinity of the forbidden energy bandgap.