Discovery, Crystal Growth, and Characterization of Garnet Eu 2 PbSb 2 Zn 3 O 12

Single crystal specimens of previously unknown garnet Eu 2 PbSb 2 Zn 3 O 12 were grown in a reactive PbO:PbF 2 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 Eu 3+ , 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 4 f 6 configuration of the Eu 3+ 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.