LAUSR

Abstract We report the structural, optical and magnetic properties of Mn doped Er 2 O 3 samples. X-ray diffraction study shows that dilute concentration of Mn in Er 2 O 3 lattice leads to change in lattice parameter as well as the crystallite sizes. The change in these parameters is attributed to difference in ionic radii of dopant and host. The changes in particle sizes and surface morphologies were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and their composition by energy dispersive X-ray measurements. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies show that increase in Mn doping causes oxygen vacancies and hence enhancement in magnetization. The intensities of Raman and photoluminescence spectra decreases with Mn concentration inside the host lattice. Further, it is found that photoluminescence bands cover most of the Raman band in the region of 200 cm −1 –700 cm −1 when excited by 514 nm laser.