Sensitization of the Gd3+ lattice by Pr3+ in GdBO3 and energy transfer to Ln3+ (Ln3+ = Dy3+, Sm3+, and Tb3+)

The Pr3+ ion has been used to sensitize the Gd3+ sublattice in GdBO3. To obtain efficient photoluminescent materials we have incorporated various activators in the host lattice. These activators are efficient in capturing the migrating Gd3+ excitons when excited via the 4f2 - 4f5d band of the Pr3+ ion. Results have confirmed the transport process Pr3+ /1b Gd3+ (/1b Gd3+)n /1b Ln3+, where Ln = Dy3+, Sm3+, and Tb3+. The observation of deVries and Blasse (12) has been utilized to predict the emission and excitation spectrum of the 4f2 - 4f5d transitions in the Pr3+ ion.