Eu3+ ion luminescence spectra from lanthanide sesquioxides exhibiting three different crystal structures

We have investigated the Eu3+ ion luminescence spectra from different host crystals of the lanthanide sesquioxides exhibiting either the A, B, or C form. The Eu3+ ion luminescence spectra from B-type Eu2O3 and from Eu3+-doped A-type La2O3 and C-type Lu2O3 were obtained at room temperature. It is suggested that the luminescence from f-f transitions in the Eu3+ ion can be used to determine the crystal structure, because the different Eu3+ ion site symmetries in the different crystal structures give rise to different characteristic spectral splitting patterns.