Luminescence of Ce doped LaCl3 microcrystals incorporated into a single-crystalline NaCl host

Formation of LaCl(3):Ce microcrystals embedded in an NaCl host has been revealed for NaCl-LaCl(3) (1 mol%)-CeCl(3) (0.05 mol%) composition by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and luminescence spectroscopy techniques. Scanning electron microscopy has shown the size of LaCl(3): Ce microcrystals to be in the 10-100 mu m range. Spectral-kinetic characteristics of NaCl-LaCl(3) (1 mol%) -CeCl(3) (0.05 mol%) luminescence have been studied upon excitation in the ultra violet-visible ultraviolet (UV- VUV) spectral range. Luminescent properties of LaCl(3): Ce microcrystals in NaCl-LaCl(3) (1 mol%) -CeCl(3) (0.05 mol%) are shown to be substantially similar to those of bulk LaCl(3): Ce (1 mol%) crystal. The energy transfer mechanism from the NaCl host and LaCl(3) microcrystal to cerium centres is discussed.