Optical investigation of the emission lines for Eu3+ and Tb3+ ions in the GaN powder host

Gallium nitride (GaN) doped by Eu3+ and Tb3+ ions have been synthesized using powder technology. The emission and absorption spectra have been obtained by using photoluminesence technique and correlated with the local structural environments. The room temperature yellow emission from GaN grains as well as from Eu3+ and Tb3+ ions has been observed for nano- as well as for microGaN grains. Additionally, for GaN:1%Eu3 micrograins the blue emission from GaN nanocrystals has been observed.