Synthesis and cathodoluminescence of YPO4 and LuPO4 single crystals activated with Er3+

Yttrium and lutetium xenotime-structured orthophosphates doped with trivalent erbium have been synthesized in the form of single crystals using flux method in the melt of Li2MoO4-MoO3 in air. Structural parameters, coherent scattering region and average microstrain have been determined by the X-ray diffraction technique. Cathodoluminescent study has shown an inhomogeneous distribution of defects, which initiate luminescence, although electron-probe microanalysis has shown a uniform distribution of Er activator in crystal matrices. The effect of intrinsic defects on the intensity of erbium luminescence bands has been studied and discussed.