Low-temperature luminescence and energy transfer processes in Eu3+, Nd3+, and Cr-doped sol–gel PLZT ceramics

Abstract Luminescence and decay times of sol–gel PLZT(9/65/35) ceramics doped with Eu 3+ , Nd 3+ and chromium ions are investigated to elucidate site occupancy and energy transfer processes at lower temperatures down to 10 K, in comparison with those prepared by mixed-oxide method. Luminescence and excitation energy transfer in sol–gel PLZT: Eu 3+ , Nd 3+ are discussed with regard to trapping-limited energy transfer processes with critical distances of about 0.5 nm. The presence of three A sites in PLZT : Eu 3+ under site-selective excitations and two B sites in PLZT : Cr 3+ , Cr 5+ in NIR emission are confirmed at low temperatures.