The author of this SGER Proposal aims to synthesize and characterize a new class of laser materials for the visible and near infrared spectral region. The solid-state synthesis of compounds consisting of reduced rare earth metal phosphates will be pursued, with the emphasis of this effort on the lower valent rare earth metal cations such as scandium and yttrium in an oxo- type phosphate anion framework. Growing single crystals and characterizing new phases by techniques such as powder or single crystal x-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, differential thermal analysis, magnetic susceptability, photoelectron spectroscopy and high resolution electron microscopy will be done with equipment presently aailable for this project at Rice University. The exploratory synthesis of new classes of compounds with unusual oxidation states and coordination is a rapidly emerging area that is providing new materials or important "hot technology" areas such as magnetism and new laser materials exhibiting sharp fluorescent lines, strong absorption bands, and high quantum efficiencies.
