Raman spectra of RE2O3 (RE=Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Sc and Y): laser-excited luminescence and trace impurity analysis

Raman spectra of a series of cubic rare earth sesquioxides RE2O3 (RE=Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Sc and Y) were investigated by Raman spectroscopy with both 532 and 785 nm laser lines. Abundant additional bands due to laser-excited luminescence were observed. For Eu2O3, Dy2O3, Ho2O3, Er2O3, Tm2O3 and Yb2O3, the luminescence mainly came from the intrinsic trivalent lanthanide ions, while for Gd2O3, Lu2O3, Sc2O3 and Y2O3, their luminescence were attributed to the trace impurities of other luminescent lanthanide ions such as Eu3+, Nd3+ and Er3+. This investigation confirmed Raman spectroscopy as a useful tool for detecting trace luminescent lanthanide impurities.