Discovery, Crystal Growth, and Characterization of Garnet Eu2PbSb2Zn3O12

Abstract

Single crystal specimens of previously unknown garnet Eu2PbSb2Zn3O12 were grown in a reactive PbO:PbF2 flux medium. The crystals were characterized by a combination of X-ray crystallography, magnetization measurements, and the optical techniques of Raman, photoluminescence, and UV/Vis spectroscopy. The material exhibits Van Vleck paramagnetism associated with the J = 0 state of Eu3+, which was possible to accurately fit to a theoretical model. Band structure calculations were performed and compared to the experimental band gap of 1.98 eV. The crystals demonstrate photoluminescence associated with the 4f 6 configuration of the Eu3+ ions sitting at the distorted 8-coordinate garnet A site. The title compound represents a unique quinary contribution to a relatively unexplored area of rare earth bearing garnet crystal chemistry. © 2020 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.