Structural and Near-Infrared Properties of Nd 3+ Activated Lu 3 NbO 7 Phosphor.

Undoped and Nd3+ doped lutetium niobate phases have been prepared by a conventional solid state reaction method using lutetium acetate and niobium oxide at 1250 °C for 6 h. X-ray diffraction patterns of the 6 mol% Lu3 NbO7 sample exhibited a cubic fluorite single phase. Phase structure exhibited interesting crystallization behaviour depending on increasing Nd3+ concentration which led to a Lu3 NbO7 single phase formation during the heat treatment process. SEM investigations were also in agreement with the XRD results. Morphologies of Nd3+ doped lutetium niobate powders exhibited oval like shapes and grain sizes varied between 0.3 and 5 μm. Near-infrared luminescence properties of Nd3+ doped Lu3 NbO7 were also studied. 1.06 μm laser transition characteristics of Nd3+ doped lutetium niobate have been observed. Concentration quenching phenomenon was not detected depending on increasing Nd3+ doping concentrations at room temperature.