Energy transfer and photoextinction from Ln³⁺ to Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ in aqueous chloride solutions

Energy transfer and photoextinction from Ln³⁺ to Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ in aqueous chloride solutions were studied by absorption, emission and excitation spectra. The energy gaps below the luminescent terms of Gd³⁺, Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ are spanned by 10, 5 and 4 quanta, respectively, of the highest energy vibration in aqueous solution, and luminescence is observed in each case. This is not so for other Ln³⁺ where nonradiative deactivation dominates over luminescence. It was verified that only Gd³⁺ could transfer energy to Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions in aqueous or acid solutions. The ions Pr³⁺, Nd³⁺, Sm³⁺, Dy³⁺, Ho³⁺ and Er³⁺ exhibited strong competitive absorption at certain wavelengths, resulting in the photoextinction of Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ emission. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.