Charge transfer excitation of the Nd3+, Sm3+, Dy3+, Ho3+, Er3+ and Tm3+ emission in CaGa2S4

The excitation spectra of the Nd3+, Sm3+, Dy3+, Ho3+, Er3+ and Tm3+ emission in the sodium-compensated CaGa2S4 host lattice, a sulfide with wide band gap, contain an intense band below the absorption edge. Comparison of the energy of its maximum with thermodynamic data and correlations to Jørgensen's refined spin-pairing theory predictions allow one to ascribe this band to a charge transfer transition ending onto 4f orbitals. The irregular variation within the rare earth series contrasts with the monotonic variation of the absorption edge in stoichiometric rare earth sulfides (e.g. NaLnS2), associated with interband transitions.