Red photoluminescence in praseodymium-doped titanate perovskite films epitaxially grown by pulsed laser deposition

Abstract

Intense red photoluminescence (PL) under ultraviolet (UV) excitation was observed in epitaxially grown Pr-doped Ca0.6 Sr0.4 Ti O3 perovskite films. The films were grown on SrTi O3 (100) substrates by pulsed laser deposition, and their epitaxial growth was confirmed by x-ray diffraction and reflected high-energy electron diffraction. The observed sharp PL peak centered at 610 nm was assigned to the transition of Pr3+ ions from the D21 state to the H43 state. The PL intensity was markedly enhanced by postannealing treatments at 1000 °C, above the film-growth temperature of 600 or 800 °C. Because the excitation and absorption spectra are similar to each other, it was suggested that the UV energy absorbed by the host lattice was transferred to the Pr ions, resulting in the red luminescence. © 2006 American Institute of Physics.