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The paper presents the synthetic procedure and the structural characterisation of Pr3+-doped eulytite double phosphates Sr3La(PO4)3 and Ba3Lu(PO4)3. The luminescence properties of these materials were studied employing time-resolved VUV spectroscopy upon excitation with synchrotron radiation. The 5d-4f emission of Pr3+ ions was detected and assigned. It was shown that energy transfer from host to Pr3+ 5d states is quite inefficient. At the same time the materials demonstrate unwanted defect-related emission that presents main path for relaxation of host relaxation excitations.

The local structure of the Ce3+ ion in the yellow emitting YAG:Ce phosphor has been studied by Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structurespectroscopy in the 300−20 K temperature range. It has evidenced that the dopant Ce3+ replaces Y3+ in the garnet structure, giving rise to a significant expansion of the distorted cubic nearest neighbours coordination sphere. The distortion created by the dopant islimited to first coordination sphere. The experimental distances obtained in this study are in good agreement with the ones derived from periodic-boundary-conditions Density Functional theory calculations.

Lu3Al5O12 (LuAG) doped with Ce3+ is a promising scintillator material with a high density and a fast response time. The light output under x-ray or y-ray excitation is however well below the theoretical limit. In this paper the influence of co-doping with Tb3+ is investigated with the aim to increase the light output. For singly doped LuAG (with Ce3+ or Tb3+) high resolution spectra are reported giving insight in the energy level structure of the two ions in LuAG. For Ce3+ zero-phonon lines and vibronic structure is observed for thetwo lowest energy d-bands and the Stokes shift (2350 cm-1) and Huang-Rhys coupling parameter (S = 9) have been determined. For Tb3+ transition to the high spin (HS) and low spin (LS) states are observed (including a zero-phonon line and vibrational structure for the highspin state). The HS-LS splitting is 5400 cm-1 which is smaller thanusually observed and is explained by a reduction of the d-f exchangecoupling parameter J by covalency. Upon replacing the smaller Lu3+ion with the larger Tb3+ ion, the crystal field splitting for the lowest d-states increases and the Ce3+ emission shows a redshift, causing the lowest d-state to shift below the 5D4 state of Tb3+ and allowing for efficient energy transfer from Tb3+ to Ce3+ down to the lowest temperatures. Luminescence decay measurements confirm efficientenergy transfer from Tb3+ to Ce3+ and provide a qualitative understanding of the energy transfer process. Co-doping with Tb3+ does not result in the desired increase in light output and an explanation based on electron trapping in defects is discussed.

In a Luminescent Solar Concentrator (LSC), short-wavelength light isconverted by a luminescent material into long-wavelength light, which is guided towards a photovoltaic cell. In principle, an LSC allows for high concentration, but in practice this is prevented by lossmechanisms like limited sunlight absorption, limited quantum efficiency and high self absorption. To tackle these problems, a suitable luminescent material is needed. Another important loss mechanism is the escape of luminescent radiation into directions that do not stayinside the light guide. To reduce this amount, wavelength-selectivefilters can be applied that reflect the luminescent radiation back into the light guide while transmitting the incident sunlight. In this paper, we discuss experiments and simulations of new luminescent and filter materials. We will introduce a phosphor with close-to-optimal luminescent properties. A problem for use in an LSC is the largescattering of this material; we will discuss possible solutions forthis. Furthermore, we will discuss the use of broad-band cholesteric filters in combination with this phosphor.

Luminescent solar concentrators would allow for high concentration if losses by reabsorption and escape could be minimized. We introducea phosphor with close-to-optimal luminescent properties and hardlyany reabsorption. A problem for use in a luminescent concentrator isthe large scattering of this material; we discuss possible solutions for this. Furthermore, the use of broad-band cholesteric filters to prevent escape of luminescent radiation from this phosphor is investigated both experimentally and using simulations. Simulations arealso used to predict the ultimate performance of luminescent concentrators.