Discovery, Crystal Growth, and Characterization of Garnet Eu2PbSb2Zn3O12

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. A new garnet with formula Eu2PbSb2Zn3O12, having mixed Eu/Pb occupancy at the typical garnet A site (left), has been grown as large single crystals from molten flux (right). The crystals have been characterized and studied by a variety of experimental and theoretical approaches.