Preparation of optical media with NIR luminescent Bi+ impurity centers by ion exchange.

Single crystal of TlCl was doped with NIR photoluminescent univalent bismuth cations by prolonged immersion in liquid bismuth metal. The ion exchange Tl+ + Bi0 ↔ Tl0 + Bi+ at the crystal surface with subsequent Bi+ migration to the bulk are expected to drive the doping process. Contrary with Bi‐doped TlCl crystals, grown by Bridgman method, the ion exchange does not produce the additional nonluminescent bismuth‐containing centers. The investigation of photoluminescence emission and excitation spectra lead to the conclusion, that Bi+ is the main NIR emissive center in Bi‐doped TlCl. Near‐IR photoluminescent univalent bismuth cations can be introduced into TlCl crystal by ion exchange route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]