Crystal growth and optical properties of Dy-doped potassium lead bromide (KPb2Br5)

Abstract Results of the material synthesis and infrared (IR) optical characterization of Dy 3+ -doped potassium lead bromide (KPb 2 Br 5 ) are reported. KPb 2 Br 5 was synthesized using commercial PbBr 2 and KBr powders and purified through zone refinement in an evacuated quartz ampoule. Following the purification, Dy-doped KPb 2 Br 5 crystals were grown by self-seeded Bridgman technique. The main emission bands of Dy:KPb 2 Br 5 under 800 nm excitation were centered in the near-IR (1.14, 1.33, 1.55, and ∼1.7 μm) and mid-IR regions (2.2, 2.4, 2.9, 4.3 μm). The efficient IR emission from Dy:KPb 2 Br 5 is due to the small maximum phonon energy (∼140 cm −1 ) of KPb 2 Br 5 , which leads to reduced non-radiative decay rates between excited states of Dy 3+ with small energy separation.