Recently, Scientists of Shanghai University investigated the scintillation and photoluminescence properties of Lu2O3:Eu. By using one of our HKZ furnaces, they prepared a series of crystals via optical floating zone crystal growth. Lu2O3:1%Eu and Lu2O3:8%Eu crystals were grown under atmospheric pressure with air, N2, and a H2-Ar mixture (5 vol% H2, 95 vol% Ar), respectively.
They found that oxidizing atmospheres lead to a depression of Eu(S6) luminescence and to a decrease of the characteristic decay time of Eu(S6). The Lu2O3:8%Eu sample grown under reducing atmosphere showed the lowest afterglow intensity. They explained the behaviour by different interstitial oxygen atom concentrations in the samples.
