Crystal growth and optical properties of LaAlO3 and Ce-doped LaAlO3 single crystals

Undoped LaAlO3 and Ce-doped LaAlO3 single crystals were grown by the Czochralski process. The segregation coefficient of cerium ions in 1at% Ce: LaAlO3 is 0.28. The undoped LaAlO3 and Ce-doped LaAlO3 single crystals were characterized by infrared transmission spectra and ultraviolet/visible/near-IR absorption spectra. It was observed that the band-to-band absorption of LaAlO3 host is around 209nm. Four characteristic f–f transitions of Ce3+ ion at 1923, 2354, 2669, and 3728cm−1 and five f–d transitions around 198, 206, 214, 246, and 316nm in the Ce-doped LaAlO3 crystal were observed. Strong emission around 410nm was also observed at excitation of 317nm in the Ce-doped LaAlO3 single crystal.