PL, magneto-PL and PLE of the trimetallic nitride template fullerene Er3N@C-80

Conference item

Er3N@C,, exhibits sharp optical emission lines in the near-infrared attributed to fluorescence from the Er3+ ion. Here we demonstrate that high magnetic fields cause this spectrum to split, corresponding to transitions from the lowest field-split Kramers doublet of the I-4(13/2) manifold to the four lowest field-split levels of the I-4(15/2) manifold. The internal structure of these fullerenes can be spatially aligned with a preferred orientation under high magnetic field; the effect of alignment is to reduce the broadening associated with the isotropic spatial averaging characteristic of powder or frozen-solution spectra. Using a tunable 1.5 mu m laser, we directly observe non-cage-mediated optical interactions with the Er3+ ion. This spectroscopic method provides the opportunity to map the energy level structure of the incarcerated ion and to coherently control its quantum state. These qualities suggest that rare-earth endohedral fullerenes have characteristics that could be employed as a readout pathway for fullerene-based quantum information processing.

Authors: Jones, MAG; Morton, J; Taylor, R; Ardavan, A; Briggs, G

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI B-BASIC SOLID STATE PHYSICS
• Volume: 243
• Issue: 13
• Pages: 3037-3041
• Publication date: 2006-11-01
• Event title: 20th International Winterschool/Euroconference on Electronic Properties of Novel Materials
• DOI: 10.1002/pssb.200669162
• EISSN: 1521-3951
• ISSN: 0370-1972
• Keywords: SPECTROSCOPY; CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC CHARACTERIZATION; ER3+; EMISSION; METALLOFULLERENES; ENDOHEDRAL FULLERENE; IONS