Energy transfer from the host excitations to Ce3+ ions in scandium borate

Efficient energy transfer from the host excitations (self-trapped excitons, STE) excited at λ∼160 nm to Ce3+ impurity ions was observed in scandium borate (ScBO3). The luminescence and excitation spectra as well as time-resolved emission data were obtained. Energy transfer rates from the STE to Ce3+ of about 108 s−1 are observed and these are within an order of magnitude of estimates based on dipole–dipole energy transfer.