Thermally coupled energy levels of Eu ³⁺ within the BaHfO₃ matrix, excited with UV radiation

The present work reports the study of the thermally coupled energy levels of the trivalent europium ion in the barium hafnate matrix, in the temperature range of 289.7–323.8 K, through the application of ultraviolet radiation. Barium hafnate doped with 1, 3, and 5 atomic % trivalent europium ion was synthesized by the hydrothermal route, using chlorides as precursor elements. X-ray diffraction analysis indicates that the material crystallized in the perovskite cubic phase of barium hafnate, according to diffraction card file number #24–0102. Using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, it was observed that the obtained crystals have an average size of 10 nm. From the photoluminescent analysis at room temperature, it was found that the sample doped with 3.0% atomic of trivalent europium displayed with the highest luminescent emission, while the photoluminescent analysis as a function of temperature showed that the bands associated with the ⁵D₀ → ⁷F_J (J = 1,2,3,4) transitions have a strong dependence on temperature in the physical range.