Excitation and emission spectra of LaInO3-based solid solutions doped with Sm3+, Sb3+

X-ray analysis showed that all the ceramic samples of La1-xSmxInO3 (0.010≤x≤0.025) solid solutions were single-phased but the samples of nominal composition of LaIn0.98Sb0.02O3, La0.98Sm0.02In0.98Sb0.02O3 contained a small amount of impurity phase of LaSbO3-based solid solutions. It was established that La0.98Sm0.02InO3 solid solution under the excitation of 275nm and 320nm exhibits the strongest photoluminescence among La1-xSmxInO3 solid solutions with 0.010≤x≤0.025. Photoluminescence bands located in wavelength ranges of 550–580nm, 585–625nm and 630–680nm exhibit 2–3 clear maxima each. According to the locations of these maxima we calculated the magnitudes of Stark splitting of 6H5/2, 6H7/2, 6H9/2 multiplets of the main 6H term of Sm3+ ion by crystal field of La1-xSmxInO3 solid solutions with orthorhombically distorted perovskite structure. It was established that the intensity of PL spectra obtained at λex=320, 405 and 470nm is significantly higher for sample of La0.98Sm0.02In0.98Sb0.02O3 nominal composition than that of La0.98Sm0.02InO3 solid solution. It could be explained by sensitizing effect of Sb3+ ions on Sm3+ ions photoluminescence or by higher PL intensity of Sm3+ ions of impurity phase than of LaInO3 matrix.