Crystal growth and phase stability of Ln:Lu2O3 (Ln=Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb) in a higher-temperature hydrothermal regime

A higher-temperature hydrothermal approach (650-700 degrees C) has been employed in the crystal growth of Lu2O3 and its lanthanide-doped analogs. Carefully controlled thermal gradients of 30 or less were also used to minimize the number of nucleation sites. The resulting crystals exhibit improvements in size and optical clarity over those grown at 600-650 degrees C. These outcomes are likely also attributed to a greater stability of Lu2O3 relative to LuO(OH) at the higher temperature conditions. The doping of Lu2O3 single crystals has been extended to encompass all spectroscopically active trivalent rare earth ions. Absorption spectra have been obtained of a wide range of lanthanide-doped Lu2O3 single crystals from 80 to 298 K and the spectra of Nd:Lu2O3 are reported as a representative example herein. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.