Structural and Spectroscopic Characterization of Active Sites in a Family of Light‐Emitting Sodium Lanthanide Tetrafluorides

Abstract

Illuminating disorder: Many highly efficient light emitters are members of the family β-NaLnF4 (Ln=Y, La–Lu). Diffuse X-ray scattering is combined with single-crystal absorption spectroscopy at cryogenic temperatures to unambiguously identify and characterize two crystallographically inequivalent spectroscopic sites (A and B). The high light yield is correlated with the existence and nature of these sites. Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://www.wiley-vch.de/contents/jc_2002/2006/z503966_s.pdf or from the author. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.