Optical and luminescence studies on Tm3+-doped KCl single crystals

Thulium-doped KCl crystals have been successfully grown using Bridgman–Stockbarger technique. The crystals were characterized by optical absorption, photoluminescence (PL), thermoluminescence glow, TL emission, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), laser Raman spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR). PL spectra exhibit broadband blue emission at 468 nm for the application of light-emitting diodes. The trap parameters of the TL glow curve are calculated using Chen’s peak shape method. XRD analysis carried out on the grown crystals and lattice parameters predicted that it crystallized in cubic structure. SEM studies revealed the presence of microcrystalline structure. EPR measurements were made at X-band frequencies with 9–10 GHz field modulation at room temperature, and the g-factor value of 2.4 was calculated by using Lande formula.