Luminescent and magnetic behavior of Eu3+-doped lanthanum manganite after slow cooling

In this study, the effect of Eu3+ on the magnetic, optical, and structural behavior of the slow-cooled La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 and La0.4Eu0.3Sr0.3MnO3 manganites was investigated using magnetization measurements as a function of the applied field, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectros-copy, FTIR measurements, and photoluminescence tests. The results showed that the addition of Eu3+ decreases the saturation magnetization of the manganite. An additional europium compound was identified after the slow cooling. The photoluminescence properties of this manganite showed to be dependent on the excitation wave-length, being more effective through the charge transfer band which transfers energy from the matrix to the Eu3+ ions. Two-lifetime constants were determined from photoluminescence experiments. (AU)