Influence of Er³⁺ concentration and Ln³⁺ on the Judd-Ofelt parameters in LnOCl (Ln = Y, La, Gd) phosphors

The optical transition properties of trivalent rare earth (RE3+) doped luminescent materials have received extensive attention. The Judd-Ofelt theory is an effective tool for exploring the optical transition properties for the 4f-4f transitions of lanthanides. The aim of this work is to discover the effect of Er3+ concentration and different Ln3+ ions on the Judd-Ofelt parameters in LnOCl:Er3+ (Ln = Y, La, Gd) phosphors. Oxychloride LnOCl:Er3+ (Ln = Y, La, Gd) phosphors were produced via a single displacement reaction technique. The Judd-Ofelt calculation procedure for RE3+ doped powders was modified and then adopted to obtain the Judd-Ofelt parameters of Er3+ in the studied phosphors. Meanwhile, a new route for examining the Judd-Ofelt calculation quality was proposed and used. It was found that the Er3+ doping concentration slightly affects the optical transition properties of Er3+ in YOCl and LaOCl, but greatly affects the optical transition properties in GdOCl. Moreover, it was also found that the optical transition properties of Er3+ depend also on Ln3+ (Ln = Y, La, Gd) though the crystal structure of these compounds is similar. The Judd-Ofelt parameters of Er3+ are the smallest in LaOCl:Er3+, medium in YOCl:Er3+, but the biggest in GdOCl:Er3+ when the doping concentration is the same.